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THINGS TO DO July - August 2010
1. People ask if it
is OK to plant in the summer. Yes it is, but if you forget to water, nature
isnt very forgiving. Trees and shrubs will continue to grow through the summer,
but making sure you have a watering system or a timer to assure that if you
leave for a while your plants still get their water is essential. This is
especially important with all new plantings. We sound like a broken record, but
mulching helps keep in moisture and reduces heat stress.
2. Dead head your
roses and perennials to keep them blooming. They regroup and bloom again.
3. Snails and slugs
are still a problem this year. There seems to be more earwigs too. Soon we will
have grasshoppers and worms eating on our plants. If you are not sure what is
eating your plants, bring some leaves in. If you have the little critters, bring
them in too in a plastic bag. Some people get confused about what to spray.
Better to get the right product and not waste your time and money.
4. For those self
starters out there mid August is the time to start seeds for your fall garden.
By late August early September, we usually have all the fall vegetables in six
packs like chard, broccoli, cabbage, lettuce, etc. and all the fall flowers like
pansies, violas and snapdragons.
5. Star thistle is a
big problem this year. They are twice their normal size. The thistles can be
mowed down or sprayed. You can use Star Thistle Killer now but you will have to
use a higher rate. The best time to spray is between Jan. and March because it a
pre-emergence and a post-emergence herbicide. 8 ounces cost $44.99 but will
cover ½ acre. Best of all, Star Thistle Killer will not affect grass so you can
spray it in pastures. It can injure clover and alfalfa however. Star Thistles
can be deadly to horses.
6. Need privacy?
Want to screen off your neighbors junk? Got snoopy neighbors? Do you dare to go
bare? We have lots of evergreen shrubs that would make a great 10-15 screen.
Want more privacy? How about a row of evergreen trees like Deodar Cedars?
7. Problems with
borers? Green Light Tree & Shrub Insect Control with Safari is
the newest and best granular insecticide for borers and other pests like scale,
whiteflies, aphids, and more on ornamental plants. Use ½ cup of the granules per
inch of trunk diameter at chest height or Ό cup per foot of height. We also have
liquid Tree &
Shrub which can be used on some fruit trees like apples and pears (but not on
stone fruits like peaches, plums, cherries, etc.). Both give season long
control. No more spraying!!
8. As the summer
gets drier and browner, deer get more desperate for food. Be prepared! Use
Liquid Fence Deer Repellant every 2-3 weeks on your most treasured plants. Too
many deer?
We have a list of deer resistant plants that deer will leave alone in most
cases anyway.
9. Because of the
wetter year, we will have more fuel for fires. Keep grass, brush and branches
away from your house. Protect your home. Walk around your house and look at the
potential fire hazards. Maybe it is time to do some clearing and pruning?
10. If you are
watering trees and shrubs with a hose and flooding the area, you will usually
need to water twice a week unless you have drought tolerant or established
plants. A drip system usually has to be run 2 4 times a week depending on how
long you run your drippers usually and hour to 3 hours. It also depends on the
gallons per hour rating on your dripper. Soil type makes a huge difference.
Sandy soils need more water and clay soils less. Soils with lots of organic
matter need less water than soils with no organic matter. Mulched plants need
less water than plants on exposed soil. The best thing to do is poke around
under the soil with a small shovel to see the moisture content of your soil. Too
dry? Up the water. Too wet? Turn it down.
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