Do You Have a Red Bay Tree?

From our neighbor, Cecily Ryan

If so, important information you need to know

Below is a message from Kate Henderson (ReForest the Forest KGC). She’s a Master Gardener, and very knowledgeable about all horticulture. 

Many of you will have noticed the increasing numbers of dead redbay trees along Kingwood Drive, particularly between the high school and Woodland Hills.  I had several dying trees in my yard and researching it led me to the invasive redbay ambrosia beetle which carries a fungus deadly to redbay trees.
Long story short, I asked Mickey Merritt the Forestry Service Community Forester to come and look.  He came out and was amazed by the sheer numbers involved.  A week later he came back with the Forest Entomologist based in Austin, samples were taken, and it has been confirmed as laurel wilt (Raffaelea lauricola) a fungus carried by the redbay ambrosia beetle.  I now have the dubious honour of having the first recorded cases in Harris County!
Laurel wilt is fatal to redbays. A single beetle can and will infect a whole tree The beetles carry the fungus and as soon as they burrow into a tree it will be infected. Laurel wilt can cross into sassafras trees and avocados. It arrived in the US in Georgia probably from the far east (pallets are suspected). A billion redbay trees are estimated to have been killed by it. There is no cure. I have had 15 trees affected so far and expect to lose the rest of my redbays.  There is no quarantine regarding disposing the infected wood, but homeowners should be mindful of spreading this fatal disease.  I have kept the felled trees on my property as I want to minimize the spread.

Architectural Review Reminder

With nice weather just around the corner, the Lake Houston Community Association Board of Directors felt it timely to address the community’s architectural review requirements.  If you are planning a project, you are to complete and submit an Architectural Modification Application for review by a member of our Architectural Review Committee. 

A few project examples are: roof, backyard deck, patio, patio cover, tree removal anywhere on your lot, fence and gate replacement or gate addition, painting of garage door, house trim, shutters, landscape and landscape lighting.  Our Architectural Review Committee reviews updates, revisions and updates to the front yard, backyard, exterior of the home, etc. and provides a timely response. 

Complete the Architectural Modification Application form prior to any work being done.  The form is located here, located on the website:  theenclavehoa.net and available through Goodwin & Co, our HOA management company.  To reach Goodwin & Co, contact Vickie at (281) 852-1155.

Renewal of Mosquito Spraying Contract

The Lake Houston Community Association Board recently signed a renewal contract for mosquito spraying within our community.

The service begins the week of March 27 and ends the week of October 30, 2022.

Our scheduled day is Tuesday, weather permitting. Service will be performed on Tuesday evenings after 11:00 p.m. and wrap up usually by 6:00 a.m.

This information, along with chemical information sheets are posted on our website under COMMUNITY INFORMATION, Mosquito Spraying.

March Garden Tips

From Kingwood Garden Center March Newsletter

  • Give your lawn its first fertilization of the year. Most lawns haven’t been fed for months so we recommend a quick release fertilizer like NitroPhos Imperial or MicroLife Hybrid.
  • Spray camellias with Neem Oil to combat tea scale. Neem Oil spray can be used on any of your plants to kill over-wintering insect eggs. Do not use if temperatures are over 90º F.
  • Fertilize currently non-blooming trees and shrubs with MicroLife 6-2-4 or NitroPhos Tree & Shrub Fertilizer.
  • Feed established roses with BioAdvance Rose Food which is a 3-in-1 product offering fertilizer, systemic insecticide and fungicide. Do not feed newly planted roses until after the first blooms.
  • Prune and trim azaleas after flowering and fertilize with MicroLife or Nitro-Phos Azalea Food.
  • Divide perennials and daylilies.
  • Feed crape myrtles with BioAdvanced All-In-One Food with systemic insecticide and fungicide. A monthly feeding will keep off the insects, which in turn will prevent black sooty mold on the leaves.
  • Plant vegetable starter plants, tomatoes, peppers, squash, eggplant, and cucumbers. Use Espoma Garden-Tone for bigger abundant harvests.
  • Finish any rose or dormant plant pruning. Remove any freeze damage.
  • When transplanting or planting a new tree or shrub, use Ferti-Lome Root Stimulator to get the plant off to a fast start.
  • Late March, apply a lawn fungicide such as MicroLife Brown Patch 5-1-3 to prevent brown patch or take-all patch. Lawn fungi flare up when the nights are cool and the days are warm.
  • Prune hibiscus and feed with Color Star Hibiscus Food to encourage new growth and blooms.. Hibiscus do not like a fertilizer with a high middle number. Rather they like a fertilizer with lots of potassium, the last number.
  • Plant perennials such as lantana, verbena, shasta daisies, salvia, plumbago, lobelia cardinalis, columbine, coreopsis, euryops, foxglove, lamb’s ear, persian shield, gaillardia, pentas, sedum, shrimp plant, wedelia, and yarrow. 

Welcome to Precinct 3

WELCOME TO PRECINCT 3!
Last October, Harris County Commissioners Court voted 3-2 on a new map for Commissioner Precinct boundaries that impacts over 2.3 million residents. Although the final transition is set to be complete by March 31, 2022, it’s likely that you are now in a new jurisdiction.

WHAT THIS MEANS FOR YOU
County Commissioners are responsible for maintaining roads, bridges, parks, and community centers that do not fall within the jurisdictions of cities, the state, or privately-owned entities. If you’ve been reporting potholes, requesting ditch maintenance, or submitting other requests to a Commissioner, you’ll want to double-check who represents you now.

USEFUL PRECINCT 3 NUMBERS

To Request Service: 713-274-3100
Parks & Centers: 281-496-2177
Senior Bus Program: 832-927-6820
Main Office: 713-274-3000
FOLLOW US
Be sure to follow us on social media for all the latest on news, events, and happenings in Precinct 3! ‌

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Click here to find out who your County Commissioner is.





ABOUT PRECINCT 3


Commissioner Precinct 3 is led by Tom Ramsey. Under the new map, Precinct 3 now spans as far west as Cypress – as far north as Tomball – and as far east as Crosby. It encompasses approximately 47% of all unincorporated Harris County, including over 6,300 lane miles of roadway, 66 parks, and 10 Community and Nature Centers.

Precinct 3 is home to nearly a dozen community centers, 15 school districts, about 1,000 neighborhoods, and the nation’s longest urban-forested corridor – the Spring Creek Greenway.

From the lively city lights in the Villages to the country prairie skies in Huffman, Precinct 3 is the place to live, play, and worship!

ABOUT THE COMMISSIONER
Commissioner Ramsey listens to you, and ensures you’re representedat every Commissioners Court
.
Commissioner Tom Ramsey was elected to serve as County Commissioner for Harris County Precinct 3 in November of 2020. A native of Crockett, Texas, he holds more than 40 years of experience as a Professional Engineer and has served more than 50 Texas cities and 20 counties.

Ramsey brings forth proven solutions and knows what works and what doesn’t. He has a long track record of improving the safety, infrastructure, livability, and financial health of the communities he serves. Ramsey served as the Mayor of Spring Valley Village from 2012-2020 – reducing the city’s tax rate by 21% and investing more than $38 million in infrastructure. He has served on the Harris County Storm Water Task Force and the Imelda Assistance Fund Board. 

As County Commissioner, Ramsey continues to prioritize safer neighborhoods, lowering taxes, and improving infrastructure.
*He launched a Crime Task Force earlier this year, which is comprised of over a dozen law enforcement agencies from County and City jurisdictions, to combat the rising crime rate.
*In addition to his strong advocacy for law enforcement, Commissioner Ramsey works closely with local, state, and federal partners to find innovative solutions for flood risk reduction – the most notable being “The Big Drain,” a proven concept of large underground tunnels that would move water to the drainage outfalls.
*Additionally, Ramsey led in securing the most significant tax revenue decrease supported by all 5 Commissioners Court members. 

Ramsey’s strong faith drives his work at Second Baptist Houston, where he is a deacon and serves on the board of Loving Kids, a local initiative launched to help underserved Houston children. 

He’s a longtime resident of Harris County of more than over 30 years, and a graduate of Texas A & M University with a B.S. in Civil Engineering. He and his wife, Marsha, have three children and seven grandchildren.



ADDITIONAL ROLES OF ACOUNTY COMMISSIONER
Harris County is led by five Commissioners Court members – four Commissioners and one County Judge. They determine tax rates and are responsible for allocating approximately $6 billion worth of funding for pertinent services. These services include the criminal justice system, infrastructure, flood control, hospital district, public health, elections, and much more.

Commissioner offices also assist local law enforcement agencies during disasters, such as conducting high-water rescues during flood events, water distributions during and after storms, and roadway clearing during wind events.

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Harris County Commissioner Precinct 3 | 1001 Preston, 9th Floor, Houston, TX 77002