09/03/2026
Ag News by Cary Sims: So, What Do We Do Now?
Well, that didn't take long.
After THE driest August on record, according to the official records at the Angelina County Airport, we started September with a tropical storm and more rain than many of us have seen in months.
Tropical Storm Edouard moved inland this week after making landfall near the Texas-Louisiana border, bringing heavy rain, flooding, and strong winds across Southeast Texas.
After spending the last several weeks talking about drought, stressed trees and how to use irrigation water wisely, I suppose the obvious question is: “So, what do we do now?”
The first answer is simple: nothing. At least for a little while.
After months of dry weather, it is tempting to look at a soaking rain and immediately start planting, fertilizing, mowing, pruning and doing all the things we have been waiting to do.
But our landscape needs some time to catch up.
Start by turning off the irrigation system. That may sound obvious after a tropical storm, but automatic irrigation systems don't know that it rained. If your system is programmed to run, it will continue doing exactly what you told it to do unless you tell it otherwise.
Let the soil tell you when additional water is needed.
The second thing I would do is take a walk around your property. While lots of trees have been showing signs of stress, those trees have just received something they desperately needed.
Rain is exactly what those drought-stressed trees needed. But don’t assume one good rain has erased months of stress.
And don't assume every problem has been solved. A tree that lost leaves during the drought may not suddenly replace them. A branch that died during the summer isn't going to come back to life. And a tree that was already weakened by drought, disease or root damage can still have problems even after receiving plenty of rain.
Look for broken limbs, hanging branches, split trunks and trees that have begun to lean. And be careful with the chainsaw.
Storm-damaged trees can be extremely dangerous. Let’s use caution when clearing storm debris, and significant storm damage. Uprooted or large splits in a tree are reasons to have the tree professionally evaluated rather than simply tackling it yourself.
Now let's talk about the garden.
If you prepared your fall garden but were waiting on moisture, this is the opportunity you've been waiting for.
But don't work the soil while it is saturated. Walking or tilling wet soil can damage its structure and create problems that will last much longer than the storm.
Give it a little time to drain. Then get to work.
There is another thing you should expect after a good rain following a prolonged dry spell: w**ds.
Lots of them.
The rain that helps your vegetables and grass also wakes up w**d seeds that have been sitting in dry soil waiting for moisture. Don't be surprised if your landscape looks considerably greener over the next couple of weeks—and not everything that turns green will be something you planted.
Finally, don't forget what this rain does for our pastures and native vegetation.
For those of us who manage cattle, hay meadows or wildlife properties, this rainfall can be a tremendous opportunity. But it is still important to remember that plants recovering from severe drought stress need time.
And don’t forget the insects.
Fall armyworms are one pest I would be watching closely over the next several weeks. Texas A&M AgriLife notes that fall armyworm outbreaks commonly occur in late summer and early fall, and that above-average rainfall in August and September can favor egg survival. Outbreaks can occur shortly after a rain or irrigation event.
Walk your pastures in the early morning or late evening and inspect the grass closely. Look for the small caterpillars and for the characteristic feeding damage on the leaves.
For established pastures, an average of three to four fall armyworms per square foot is a reasonable treatment threshold for many pastures, although the economic threshold depends on the condition and value of the forage.
Pasture mealybug is another pest East Texas livestock producers should continue to watch. I would not assume this rain will cause a mealybug outbreak, but I would continue scouting fields as it has been identified as close as Trinity and Polk Counties.
Look for yellowing, reddish or poorly growing areas of grass, particularly around the edges of damaged areas. Check the undersides of leaves and look down into the thatch and around the soil surface for the tiny insects.
So, what do we do now?
We watch.
We watch our trees. We watch our lawns. We watch our gardens. We watch our pastures.
And most importantly, we pay attention to what the plants and soil are telling us.
August reminded us that plants can suffer when they don't have enough water.
September may remind us that too much water, applied at the wrong time, can create its own problems.
The answer isn't always more water.
The answer isn't always less water.
The answer is paying attention.
After a long, hot, and brutally dry August, I'm just glad East Texas finally got a drink.
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Cary Sims is the County Extension Agent for agriculture and natural resources for Angelina County. His email address is [email protected](Opens in new window).
Educational programs of the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service are open to all people without regard to race, color, s*x, disability, religion, age, national origin, genetic information, or veteran status. The Texas A&M University System, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the County Commissioners Courts of Texas Cooperating.
