Gardening Checklist for June-July

If you haven’t yet applied mulch to your garden, now is the  time to do it. Mulch not only helps conserve water, but also  keeps the root zone of the plant at a cooler, more desirable temperature. However, don’t place mulch too close to the trunk of  your trees or shrubs. You should also raise your lawnmower  to at, or near, its maximum cutting height for the rest of the  summer. Don’t collect your grass clippings, but leave them on  your lawn. This not only helps to mulch your yard, but the  grass clippings contain a considerable amount of nutrients.

Red spider mite can be a real problem on both vegetable  and ornamental plants this time of year. If you start to get  brown, discolored foliage, it may be due to mite damage. Hold  a sheet of white paper below a branch and tap the branch  sharply. If some of the dirt specks start to move, you can be  almost certain you have spider mite. Check with your favorite  nurseryman to get a recommendation on proper treatment.  Sometimes a good strong water spray will dislodge them, or  maybe Safer Soap, or as a last resort, Kelthane.

Tent caterpillars can also be a problem, especially in pecan trees. If you can just tear the “tent” open, then your local  population of wasps will probably do the rest for you. Tent  caterpillars usually won’t kill your tree, but they can sure make  it look shabby.

Leggy annuals and perennials may be cut back hard and  fertilized to produce a new flush of blooms. A good time to do  this is just before going on vacation. By the time you return,  new blooms should be developed.

Be on the lookout for powdery mildew on crape myrtle,  zinnia, photinia, and euonymus, as well as many other plants.  A spray made up of 4 teaspoons of baking soda plus 1/2 tea-  spoon liquid dishwashing detergent in a gallon of water has  been found to be quite effective. It is also much cheaper than  commercial alternatives such as Funginex or Daconil.

To keep hanging baskets looking attractive, soak the bas-  kets in a tub of water every few days in addition to the regular  daily watering. This is also a good time to fertilize baskets  since you should never apply fertilizer to dry plants.

Finally, be sure to use common sense while doing your  gardening chores. Try to do your work during the relative cool  of the morning or evening. If you must be out during the heat  of the day be sure to stop and rest regularly and drink lots of  water. Also, you should protect yourself from sunburn and  possible skin cancer by using a sun block with UVA and UVB  protection, and invest in a hat with a broad brim.

-Norman