The Learning Center

July Gardening Tips

Pruning
There is no group of plants more versatile, durable and attractive than herbaceous perennials. Sometimes they get too versatile and durable. Many of the herbaceous perennials will need cutting back or staked, as the growth since spring may be getting too large.

Unpruned plants are good candidates to be blown over in a thunderstorm. Also a good summer trim will encourage new growth and possibly more flower buds for late summer or fall. Several plants to consider for midsummer clean up are; Tansy, Hollyhocks, Mexican Bush Sage, Santolina, Comfry, Catnip, Queen Anne's Lace, Fennel, and Thyme. Remember to keep a 3 to 4 inch layer of an organic mulch throughout the perennial border. Also keep any insect pests under control and fertilize if necessary.

July is a good time to trim the "bleeders" in the landscape. Maples, birches and dogwoods can be lightly pruned and reshaped. This is also a good time to prune water sprouts from crabapples, Crape Myrtles and all fruit trees.

The appearance of many shrubs can be improved with a general pruning at this time of year.

Rejuvenation Pruning: If the shrubs have turned into small trees over the years, now would be an appropriate time to get the big saw out and take them back to 12”-15" stems.

The other professional approach is to limb up from the ground and accentuate the `tree look'.

Summer Watering Practices In The Landscape
One of the first signs of drought stress in ornamentals and turf is wilting. This is the case for plants in non irrigated areas. Many of our favorite plants show drought related symptoms differently. The leaves of some plants may exhibit marginal leaf burn of leaf scorching while others will simply wilt. An extended period without moisture can become a permanent, nonreversible situation.

There are several plants that are typically grown in many landscapes that we can use as indicator plants. These plants wilt readily and are usually the first ones to show drought stress. They are azaleas, dogwoods, hydrangeas, most annuals and turf.

When these plants begin to look thirsty, you should have a plan to get water to the roots. A handheld hose is probably the fastest plan of action but, may not be the best method.

If you are growing summer color plants in containers, it will be to your advantage to keep a water saucer under the pot. Pots will not dry out so quickly. It will also help to add peat moss and soil to the pine bark media to hold moisture. Be sure to mix the amendments together thoroughly before planting. Watering frequency will be greatly reduced.

Landscape Tips
Now is a good time to stroll around the landscape and be observant. Look at the new growth on the trees and shrubs as an "indicator of progress". There should be foliage all the way to the tips. If the ends are bare, this may indicate some serious root problems. New growth should be apparent on liriope, English ivy, periwinkle and pachysandra. If new growth from this spring season is not visible, or is less than normal, then investigate the problem --- environmental stress, poor drainage, low nutrient availability, pH problem, construction damage to the root zone area or possible chemical injury. Be sure to check for insects. Aphids, mites and scales are serious problems.

Summer Bedding Plants
Finish planting summer color beds. Don't take shortcuts in preparing the soil. Good root establishment will maximize top growth and flowering performance.

August Garden Tips

Fertilization
Annuals and Biennials that have recently been cut back to force new flowers will benefit from fertilizing with a liquid 20/20/20 fertilizer now.

Pruning
For additional flowering, deadheading some of your favorite flowers now may force them to bloom again in the fall.

Light pruning may be performed for most landscape plants except those that you expect to have blooms from next spring such as azaleas. Storm damaged tissue may make it necessary to make heavier pruning cuts than normal to repair broken, leaning or dangerous limbs.

Cut back Red Tips now to have beautiful red foliage throughout the winter months.

Pest Control
August is often the hottest and most humid month for growing plants. Extra care must be provided for young establishing plants due to the abundant and constant pressure of insect, disease and weed competition.

Air quality may be poor and plants may show signs of ozone injury. Treat fungal diseases with fungicides as needed and continue to monitor plant growth to prevent devastating losses.

Insect populations build up to threshold levels and wise use of pesticides may be necessary to control Aphids, Spider Mites, Scales, and Whiteflies found in the landscape. Azalea caterpillars and fall webworms make their appearance now - treat with Orthene, Sevin or Malathion.

Get Ready!
Fall is the best time to plant trees and shrubs in the landscape. Look around now and analyze your site to see if you can enhance your landscape with a few more plants or you may want to consider renovating your landscape this fall. Now is the time to put your ideas on paper and start lining up the plants you will need later. Have you thought about a fall garden?

Hints! Regular weeding and watering of lawns, flowers, and vegetable gardens will keep them producing all summer. Mulch all beds to maintain even moisture and keep weeds down. Leaf spot on tomatoes can be treated with an insecticidal spray: follow label directions. Good clean-up of all infected leaves, branches, and plant stubble from gardens can prevent the spread of diseases in your gardens.

Lawn Care
Fertilize the warm seasoned grasses with 1/2 to 1 pound of actual nitrogen except Centipede grass. Late applications of nitrogen may cause winter kill or cold injury to Centipede grass.