This spring, you’ve worked hard to create a great looking garden. We want to keep your garden looking great. Here are some summer garden tips:
KEEP WATERING
Keep watering as needed. The general rule of thumb for established plants and turf is 1-inch rainfall every ten days or so. A rain gauge will tell how much rain has fallen in your yard. Newly planted trees, shrubs, annuals, and perennials may need watering more often.Check your soil moisture before watering. For established trees, evergreens and shrubs, try using a “Ross Root Feeder.” For landscape beds, use stationary sprinklers or soaker hoses. “Tree Water Bags” are great for newly planted (or up to 3-inch diameter) trees. Water deeply and thoroughly each time. Water the soil, not the foliage. And try to water between 5 am and 9 am.
FEED YOUR PLANTS
Feed roses, perennials, annuals, veggies, etc. as needed.Feed amaryllis bulbs growing thru the summer.
DEADHEADING
Keep deadheading spent flowers on annuals and perennials to encourage new growth and new flowers.Cut back leggy annuals to rejuvenate the plant.Pinch mums and asters for the last by no later than July 15.
DIVIDING PLANTS
Late July and August are the perfect times for digging, dividing and moving iris and peonies.
What to Watch For:
Watch for hornworms on tomato plants.Watch for infestations of Japanese beetles. Hosing off the early scouts and females may help keep them moving on.Hand pick beetles or knock them off into a bucket of soapy water. A short term / quick covering plants with grow covers/cheesecloth may also help.Spraying insecticides has limited control –Eight, Neem, Capt. Jack’s and Insecticidal Soaps. Spray in the evening when bees are not present. Systemic insecticides applied earlier as a soil drench may help minimize beetle damages, but must be done three weeks prior and do not apply to flowering pollinator plants.
MONITOR YOUR PLANTS FOR INSECT OR DISEASE PROBLEMS
REMOVE DEAD BRANCHES, WATER SPROUTS, AND SUCKERS AS NEEDED.
LAWN MAINTENANCE
Mow the lawn as needed (never remove more than 1/3 grass blade each time you mow).Mow at a higher mowing level, and return the grass clippings back to the turf.Apply Grub Preventers to the lawn (June thru mid-July) if needed, and water in well.