July and August forecast is predicting above average
temperatures for most of the United States. For the past two weeks there have
been heat advisory warnings daily and to use precautions while working
outdoors. The best times to garden in an area that has heat advisories is early
morning or late afternoon. When we garden during these heat advisories it is
recommended to protect yourself from heat dangers by:
·
Stay out of the sun, if
possible.
·
Drink plenty of cool
water whether you are thirsty or not.
·
Wear loose,
light-colored clothing, and sun screen. Try wearing clothes that use the
Dri-Fit technology.
·
Try to schedule outdoor
activities early mornings or late afternoons.
·
While working outdoors
pace yourself and take a break when tired.
Prune Tropical Hibiscus you plan
to bring indoors for the winter. Plan to place your plant in the sunniest
window during the winter months. Trim back enough to fit your location indoors
and bring your Hibiscus inside around December or before first frost. After
pruning check your Hibiscus for insects and spray with appropriate insecticide.
Now is a good time to fertilize your Hibiscus. Hibiscuses are heavy feeders and
should be fertilized monthly.
Remove faded
blooms and seedpods on your Crepe
Myrtles. You may be rewarded with more blooms before first frost. The
recommended fertilizer formulation for Crepe
Myrtles is 10-15-9 or a similar combination. Don’t forget to fertilize your
Crepe Myrtles.
Roses prune out
dead canes, and weak, bushy growth. Cut back tall, vigorous bushes by 1/3 the
original plant height. Fertilize roses on
a monthly basis until October. After pruning you should see new blooms coming
in about 6 weeks.
Azaleas Lace bugs
on your Azaleas increase rapidly in summer. Check your Azaleas for insects. The
damaged caused by these sucking insects looks like tiny white dots and the
entire leaf is almost completely white. Spray with appropriate insecticide
labeled for Azalea Lace Bugs.
Perennials
Can be divided in August and transplanted else
where in the garden. Perennials such as: summer phlox, peony, iris, and
daylily. Perennials that have finished blooming for their season can be divided
also.
Lawns check
your grass for insects, especially for chinch bugs and white grubs. These
insects are most active in the summer months. The signs for chinch bugs are
irregular circles, and the grass is thin, and then dies. For white grubs, the
signs are irregular circles, and the grass is loosely rooted. Check the soil
underneath the loosely rooted grass by digging up the soil, the grubs should be
about an inch down in the soil, if you have them. Apply the appropriate insecticide
and follow the package directions carefully. Lawn Mower Blades should be sharpened once each summer. A sharpened
lawn mower blade prevents shredding the grass, and giving your lawn a nice,
clean cut.
Mulch check
all shrub beds and trees for mulch thickness. We are experiencing extreme heat
this summer and shrubs and trees that have 2 to 3 inches of mulch keeps the
roots cool and helps the soil retain moisture. In winter 2-3 inches of mulch
will keep the soil warm through the winter season.
Fruits and Vegetables Start
planning your fall vegetable garden this August. Till the soil and add Gypsum
and Composted Cottonseed hull. The additives lower the alkalinity and helps the
soil stay loose. Tomatoes, Peppers, and Beans should be planted by August 1st.
Starter plants usually are available by August 15th. Pick the
varieties of tomatoes that mature in 65-70 days. Cool season vegetables, broccoli,
carrots, lettuce, cabbage, cauliflower, swiss chard, collards, spinach, kale,
and snow peas are planted in September. Blackberry
and Raspberry plants at this time of year have a tendency to trail along
the ground. Take the trailing canes or runners and tie them back to their
arbor. For more information on planting fall vegetables click to read my blog post
Here. Seeds for cool season vegetables can be started now for planting in
September.
Seeds sow cool
season seeds of snapdragons, dianthus, pansies, calendulas, and sweet alyssum
to be planted in mid to late fall. Sow seeds of bluebonnets and other spring
wildflowers this month to be planted in the garden. The wildflowers will
establish a root system during the fall for spring blooms.
Tropical Foliage Plants Check
plants that are spending the summer outdoors for insects. Use an insecticidal
soap, if needed. Your houseplants can be fertilized biweekly with a water-soluble
plant food. Hibiscus and More has a wonderful selection of gardening books.
Click to order.
August is a good time to start thinking about fall
bulbs. Mail-order houses usually have early bird specials
for consumers who order early.
Discover the beauty of nature
with Hibiscus and
More, where you can explore a stunning collection of fine art
prints that bring the garden to your home.
Cheryl Meola’s Plant Photography on Merchandise. The website features clothing, home décor, puzzles,
and greeting cards to customize for any occasion. https://cherylann-meola.pixels.com
Floral & Foliage Stock Photography. Stock
Photography.
Botanical & Seasonal Stock Photography. Stock
Photography.
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Have a wonderful summer. Stay hydrated, keep cool,
and go to the shade when starting to feel weak. Happy Gardening.
©Cheryl
Ann Meola - Certified Texas Nursery Professional #1282
