Mid-Summer Gardening

Gardening in Mid-summer
Contributed by Rich Sherman of Myrtle Creek Nursery

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.