Ground rules and
tools
Summer
is an important season for gardeners
June 2, 2005
Gardening is the art that uses flowers and
plants as paint, and the soil and sky as canvas. -Elizabeth Murray
This is an important time of year to be in
the garden. In fact, the master gardeners have been in the
Now is the time to be sure you have prepared
your plants for the stressful heat that normally occurs in our Crossroads area
during the coming summer months. Last year brought very unusual weather to
Wet or dry, pay close attention to this
year's rainfall amounts and soil moisture so your sprinklers are not watering
needlessly. With our summer weather often too wet or too dry, it is wise not to
water on a preset schedule. Turf grass should be watered early in the morning
and not late in the day. Proper watering technique involves watering thoroughly
to encourage a deep root system. Frequent, shallow watering
results in a shallow, poorly developed root system.
Our soil is quite alkaline so watch for signs
of iron deficiencies (yellow leaves with dark green veins) in your landscape
and garden plants. Apply an iron-containing product to correct or prevent iron
deficiency.
June is a good time for gardeners to look at
their landscapes to plan next spring's garden. Note plants that should be
relocated or removed next spring before they start their active growth stage.
Take pictures of color groupings that you wish to repeat. Good records from
this year will make your spring gardening much easier next year.
Keeping in mind that routine observations
keep the gardener ahead of potential problems, watch for stressed plants in
your landscape. Tiny spider mites thrive in hot, dry weather and can stress
plants even more. Badly infested plants should be destroyed before other plants
are affected. Use an organic control such as insecticidal soap for treatment as
a first resort and then chemical control if needed.
One of the best things to do for your plants
is to add mulch. Earth-Kind gardening from Texas A&M
defines mulch as "any material spread on the garden to protect root plants
from heat, cold or drought, to reduce problems with weeds, and to keep fruit
clean." Mulching conserves moisture by allowing the soil to soak up more
water and by reducing the rate of water loss. Mulch can be either organic
(straw, compost, sawdust, and similar plant materials) or inorganic (plastic,
rocks, rock chips, and other non-plant materials).
Summer applications of organic mulches, which
are the most commonly used, benefit the landscape by reducing soil temperature
and saving soil moisture. An added benefit of organic mulches is that, at the
end of the season, they can be turned into the soil to improve the soil's
physical condition.
A layer of mulch can reduce maintenance by
preventing weed seeds from germinating. Always remove weeds promptly to prevent
them from blooming and producing seed. It is much easier to pull a few small
weeds in June rather than pull many large weeds later in August.
Check to see if spring annuals have passed
their prime and need to be replaced by plants that are more tolerant of our
hot, dry summers. Some of them may need to be trimmed for a better appearance.
Fertilize your container plants and hanging baskets as needed. A light
fertilizer will give them a needed boost in the coming months. Potted plants
will dry out quickly in summer heat and may need to be watered daily if there
is no rainfall. Remember that transplants need to be watered as needed until
their roots become established.
Remove faded flowers from annuals and
perennials to keep the plants growing and producing flowers or from going to
seed. Pinching the flowers from sun coleus and other annuals and perennials
will make them branch out and look attractive longer. Help them by giving a
light application of fertilizer every four to six weeks.
Heat-loving zinnias and portulaca
can still be direct-seeded. Consider adding periwinkle, salvia, marigold,
cleome, portulaca, and purslane
to give summer color to the garden. Heat-tolerant perennials that do especially
well here include esperanza,
firebush, lantana and cannas. "
Crape myrtles are now in bloom, so this is a
wonderful time to ensure purchasing a tree with the desired bloom color. There
are many varieties of crape myrtles, so study the plant tag to know that the
size is appropriate for your planting location and that it is disease and pest
resistant. Buying the proper tree will reduce your maintenance and help avoid
the temptation to "top" the tree as it reaches full size.
Flowering shrubs such as azaleas, gardenias,
and Indian hawthorns may be pruned when they finish blooming. Avoid severe or
needless pruning of shrubs this time of year. After trimming, apply fertilizer
according to label directions.
Roses may be slowing down. Apply small
amounts of nitrogen immediately after a flush of bloom or every four to six
weeks. Continue to spray susceptible roses with a black-spot control such as Funginex every seven to 10 days. Water as needed to
maintain a moist but not wet or dry soil during the growing season and, if at
all possible, avoid wetting the foliage. Deadhead to encourage future blooms.
Whether outside for play or
work, be sure to drink plenty of water. Many garden tasks can be performed during the cooler times of the day,
early in the morning or late in the evening. Protection from the sun and heat
make outdoor activities more tolerable.
Be vigilant to try to keep your summer garden
free of insects, diseases, and weeds. Many problems can be easily remedied if
they are caught early. Observing your landscape and treating problems promptly
can make your maintenance much easier so more time can be spent viewing your
efforts. Most important, though, enjoy your summer landscape and share your
gardening efforts with your family and friends. Take pleasure in seeing and
sharing the flowers, plants, soil and sky as paint and canvas of your garden.