Monthly Archives: May 2018

What is the Water Smart Tax Holiday?

Posted on May 22 2018 by Fannin Tree Farm

​Established in 2016, the Lawn & Garden Water Smart Tax Holiday was created to encourage responsible water use in Texas. During the Memorial Day Weekend event, certain water saving products are tax-free!

When is the Water Smart Tax Holiday?

The tax-free holiday falls on Memorial Day Weekend from Saturday, May 26 to Monday, May 28.

What water smart item qualify for the tax-free exemption?

Here are the categories of products that qualify for the sales tax exemption

  • Watersense Products: Any product tax free that displays a WaterSense label or logo whether for personal or business purposes.
  • Water-Conserving Products: Consumers can also purchase certain water-conserving products tax free. Unlike WaterSense-labeled items, these items are only exempt when purchased for use at a residential property.
  • Water Conservation Items: These would include items used or planted to conserve or retain groundwater, recharge water tables, or to decrease the ambient air temperature, limiting water evaporation

Here are some examples of items that qualify for the exemption:

  • Soaker or drip-irrigation hoses
  • Moisture control for a sprinkler or irrigation system
  • Mulch
  • Rain barrels or an alternative rain and moisture collection systems
  • Permeable ground cover surfaces that allows water to reach underground basins, aquifers or water collection points
  • All plants, trees and grasses
  • Water-saving surfactants
  • Soil and compost

What items do not qualify for the tax-free exemption?

Examples of items that do not qualify for the exemption include:

  • Construction/building materials
  • Awnings and other items used to create shade
  • Air conditioners
  • Ceiling fans
  • Sprinklers

Fannin Tree Farm is proud to be part of this annual event and help conserve one of our most precious and limited resources in Texas: water.

Fannin Tree Farm – Holiday Weekend Hours:

Saturday 5/26/18: 9am – 5pm
Sunday 5/27/18: 1pm to 5 pm
Monday (Memorial Day) 5/28/18: 10am – 3pm

Powdery Mildew

Posted on May 14 2018 by Fannin Tree Farm

Have you ever notice a white powdery substance on your leaves? This may be Powdery Mildew. This disease can impair the photosynthetic process, stunt leaf growth and cause early defoliation.

Powdery Mildew has fungal hyphae on the leaf surface in the spring and uses specialized absorption cells (haustoria) to obtain nutrition from the host plant. The pathogen uses enzymes to break down the structural components of leaves.

At Fannin Tree Farm we apply preventative fungicides to trees with a history of Powdery Mildew to prevent development of Asci Spores enclosed in these dark colored fruiting bodies known as Chasmothecium. This prevents the pathogen from overwintering in the bark of trees and may prevent future development.


Epiphytic hyphae and chasmothecia on leaf surface. (Courtesy W. Gärtel)


Ruptured chasmothecium showing several asci containing ascospores. Erysiphe (Section Uncinula sp.) (Courtesy B. Kendrick)

If you would like to have one our trained arborist evaluate your trees, call us to setup an appointment. We have the diagnostic skills to protect your trees!