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 Gardening in
Mid-summer
Contributed by Rich Sherman of Myrtle Creek Nursery
Click here to view Rich's tips on
container gardening video!
The most important task
in the summer months is make sure your garden is properly and
regularly watered. Deep watering means all your plants need at
least one inch of water a week. Watering in the early morning or
late afternoon in the desert areas helps to minimize burning of
the leaves (as the sun dries waterdrops, it can burn tender
leaves) and evaporation. If you live where summer nights turn
chilly, water in the early morning or early afternoon.
Deep watering helps the
root system of your plants grow deeper into the soil, where they are
protected from the hot sun and less likely to dry out. Deep watering
also promotes a stronger root system that anchors itself into the
soil better. A quick light watering is usually a waste of water as
the water dries out before reaching the plants root zone. Check the
soil by digging down 3-4 inches--it should be moist, or you are not
watering thoroughly enough. Drought resistant plants do not require
as much water to live, but if you want a good looking, healthy
garden, water them deeply and regularly.
To prolong the beauty of
your garden, always deadhead flowers on annuals and perennials. This
will prevent the plants from going into the seed producing stage and
give you a longer blooming season.
Get rid of weeds before
they go to seed and this will save you years of weeding in the long
run. Weeds can rob your garden of water and nutrients while harboring
insects and some diseases. Keep an eye out for pests and disease,
especially aphids and spider mites that love warm weather. Treat
organically and early, before they get a real foothold in the
garden.
Remember to change the water in your
bird bath regularly, and keep it
filled. Don't let it get stagnant,
which is unhealthy for birds, and become a breeding station for
mosquito larvae.
This is also a good time to add new
focal points in the garden, sculptures, arbors, etc. Take pictures of your garden at peak
blooming to help you plan for next summer. And finally, looking
ahead to fall, it is time to get the cold frame ready and start
planning your fall flower garden. Below is a handy list of things to
check.
Annuals & Bedding
Plants Bulbs
Greenhouse,
Indoor & Container plants
Lawns
Perennials and
Shrubs
Roses
Trees & Citrus
Watering and Mulch
Vegetables & Herbs
Annuals & Bedding Plants
Flowering bedding plants should be
deadheaded and fed with a
liquid feed. Follow the manufacturers directions because
overfeeding can encourage too much leaf growth, rather than
flowers.
Cut back leggy annuals by half
and feed to encourage a longer bloom
season. Depending on your zone, the beginning of August is your
last chance to plant annuals like
Zinnias, Portulaca and Petunias for fall bloom.
You can also plant
salvias, Mexican
petunias, asters, and cosmos.
Pull up spent annuals
such as Poppies, Cornflowers and
Larkspur, making sure to shake them so the seeds
will fall where you want plants to
reseed.
Bulbs
This is the best time in most areas,
to plant your spring bulbs. Dig up the soil to loosen it up, put
in some manure or general fertilizer and then plant.
Greenhouse,
Indoor & Container plants
Hot weather means your
indoor plants will need more water than usual, and some will
want misting. Plants in the greenhouse must be looked at too. By
this time compost is exhausted so plants will need more feeding.
Winter flowering pansies can be
sown in the greenhouse, but be do not keep the young
plants inside any longer than is absolutely necessary or they
will grow too fast in the summer heat. Normally, winter pansies
you buy at nurseries have been treated to restrict growth until the
weather cools to make sure you get blossoms and not just foliage.
Trim and feed handing baskets to prolong their
beauty.
Water every day or so, with a thorough watering.
In late August in most areas, if you
want Christmas flowers, bring your
Poinsettias and Christmas cactus
back indoors. If you want them to
bloom for the holidays, Poinsettias must be kept in a temperature
range of 65-70 degrees Fahrenheit and Christmas cactus at about 50 to 60
degrees. They also need at
least 14 hours of darkness a day for six weeks from August to late
September. To do this, place the potted plants in a
closet, unlit room, or
cover to keep out light. The plants must then
be
given a minimum of 4 hours of
direct sun, or 10 hours of bright
light. An application of
fertilizer in August and September
will encourage buds, then
feed every 2 weeks with a high
nitrogen fertilizer.
Lawns
Unwatered lawns will go
dormant and brown. If you want a green lawn, water regularly and
deeply in the summer. Even a dormant lawn will need water at
least once a month.
Raise the cutting height of
the mower. to let the grass grow taller--it cools the roots and helps to
retain moisture.
Depending on your area and temperature, Fescue
can be sown to repair lawns in the
last week of August.
Fertilize your lawn for the last time
this season.
Perennials and Shrubs
Feed Chrysanthemums every two weeks
with a liquid fertilizer until the
flower buds begin to show color.
Prune all summer blooming perennials to
shape after the last bloom. Remove any dead or diseased branches and
discard so disease doesn't become part of the fall leaves.
August is the time to divide
spring flowering perennials like Japanese Iris
and deadhead old
blooms, on all
summer blooming perennials.
Do this during the
coolest part of the day and water
the plants thoroughly after
transplanting.
Cut back the foliage of early bloomers to revitalize the
plants. Start saving seeds and
taking cuttings.
Perennial and biennial
plants can be started from seed sown
directly into the garden during
August or September.
Container grown
perennials, shrubs and trees can be
planted this month. Always take time
to properly
prepare the soil by mixing
generous quantities of peat moss,
compost and processed manure
with your existing soil.
Plant trees, shrubs and perennials now, so they
can take root, and keep them well watered.
Roses
Fertilize your roses for the last
time this season.
For the best display of fall blossoms, prune your hybrid roses in late
August. Remove about a third of
the vigorous growth and any stems that
cross each other or that are in the
center of the plant. Remove weak
or diseased canes. In warmer regions, roses should be
fertilized through the end of
September. Watch for aphids and
spray accordingly.
Trees & Citrus
Feed citrus trees after harvest.
Plant trees, shrubs, and other hearty
evergreens. Keep them well watered.
Fertilize - roses, lawn grasses,
trees and shrubs for the last time
this season.
Remove any diseased foliage now, so it doesn't get
lost in the fall leaves.
Plant trees, shrubs and perennials now, so they
can take root, and keep them well watered.
Watering and Mulch
Wood chippings, peat or some kind of mulch spread around
the plant roots, then soaked with water will help prevent too
much moisture evaporating during a hot summer day.
Vegetables & Herbs
Vegetables and melons require watering
on a regular basis to keep the fruit from splitting.
Pinch out the centre shoot
of your tomato plants to provide energy to filling out the existing tomatoes
instead of more growth and more flowers.
Plant fall vegetables,
English peas, broccoli, cabbage,
cucumbers, spinach, lettuce,
garlic and squash.
Beans will give you a bumper crop if you give them plenty of water at
this time of year.
Harvest herbs now for fresh use and for drying will keep them growing longer.
Fertilize vegetables every 4 to
6 weeks.
 Myrtle
Creek Nursery: Stroll scenic pathways wandering through blooming
gardens, waterfalls and fountains. The farmhouse and grounds are packed
with antiques, statuary, architectural salvage, gifts and our own brand of
jams and preserves. 2940 Reche Road, Fallbrook, CA 92028. Tel: (760)
728-5340. For details, click here. |
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Guide
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