Garden Heights | Summer To Do List

Summer is a lovely time in the garden. St. Louis summer heat can dry the soil quickly, make sure to water gardens and lawns deeply to encourage good strong root systems. Supplement natural rainfall so that plants receive about 1" of water per week. Watering early in the day reduces the risk of fungus diseases.
Flowers \| Roses \| Vegetables and Herbs \| Lawn \| Trees and Shrubs \| House Plants \| Compost \| For Your Garden Friends
*FLOWERS*
	Monitor watering for all plants! Check container plants and hanging baskets daily and water deeply!
	With care, planting can continue all summer long. To help reduce stress, avoid planting or transplanting when the temperature is over 85 degrees or during the hottest time of day. Reduce transplant shock by watering in new-plantings with Fertilome Root Stimulator. Keep new plants well watered until established.
	Stake plants that need support to ensure straight growth and protect neighboring plants.
	Apply Liquid Fence Deer and Rabbit Repellent every 10-14 days to deter deer, rabbits & squirrels.
	Remove all weeds in beds and borders, then apply *Preen* to prevent new weeds from growing. Use a non-selective weed killer such as *Round Up* to kill unwanted existing weeds and grass. *Be careful NOT to spray desirable plants.*
	Apply *Shredded Bark Mulch* to a depth of 2". This reduces weeds and conserves water.
	Holes in your hosta leaves can be a sign of slug or snail damage. Scatter organic *Sluggo, or Natural Guard Crawling Insect Control* scattered under affected plants.
	In July, plant sunflower seeds for bloom in October for an attractive fall display.
	Clean up all diseased foliage on peonies and other perennials to prevent spread of fungal diseases. Apply *Fertilome Dusting Sulfur* or *Organic Safer Garden Fungicide* at the first sign of disease, and reapply until all signs of fungus disease disappear.
	In July, plant sunflower seeds for bloom in October for an attractive fall display.
	*Holly-Tone* should be used on acid loving plants such as gardenia, jasmine, orchids and ferns.
	Use Vacation, all natural anti-drought plant treatment on your potted plants just before leaving town. Your potted plants will survive up to two weeks with out watering! For shorter trips set potted plants on Soil Moist Mats to keep plants moist.
	If perennials have been fertilized with Pro-Start in the spring, they should not need fertilizer in the summer.
	Organic fertilizers such as *Fish Emulsion Fertilizer, or Gro-tone* may be used every two weeks. The organics are non-burning (especially important in the hot weather!) and add many of the minerals that get washed out by daily watering.
	It is normal for some perennials to die-back in the summer such as old fashioned Bleeding Heart, Spiderwort, Oriental Poppies and many wildflowers such as Trillium. Clean up withered foliage to prevent attracting slugs.
	Pinch back mums and asters until mid-July for more compact plants and to prevent early blooming.
	Be on the watch for pests and diseases. Bring in affected foliage or insects for appropriate diagnosis and treatment recommendation. Make sure the product used for treatment, lists the insect or disease being treated or controlled.
Roses
	To prevent black-spot and fungus diseases, do not water the foliage! Hand water at the base of the plant or use soaker hoses buried in mulch. If overhead watering is necessary, make sure to water early in the morning so that water evaporates from the foliage quickly.
	Fertilize every six weeks with Bayer All-in-One Rose and Flower Care or every four weeks with Espoma Rose-Tone Organic Rose Food. Make the last application before August 15th.
	Remove all yellowed and black-spotted foliage. Do not allow any diseased leaves to remain on the ground. Pick off all black-spotted leaves on the plant. Spray every seven to ten days with Safer Garden Fungicide or dust with Fertilome Dusting Sulpher.
	Apply *Monterey Insect* for control of Japanese Beetles, or use *Japanese Beetle Traps* at the first sign of chewed leaves.
	Remove dead flower heads, pruning to just above an outward facing five-leaf stem.
Vegetables and Herbs
	Fertilize vegetables bi-monthly using organic fertilizers such as *Fish Emulsion Fertilizer* and Gro-tone or monthly with *Garden-tone.* The organics are non-burning (especially important in the hot weather!) and add many of the minerals that get washed out by frequent watering.
	Use soaker hoses for consistent watering. Inconsistent watering can cause tomatoes to crack and blossom end rot to occur. Tomato flowers will not set fruit of nighttime temperatures exceed 70 degrees.
	In AUGUST, set out broccoli, cabbage and cauliflower transplants for fall garden. Sow seeds of spinach, carrots, collards, kale, sweet corn, summer squash, lettuce, beets, turnips, winter radish, cilantro and dill.
*Lawn*
	Mow grass as necessary to a length of 3" to 3 1/2". Cut slightly higher if the weather is especially dry and hot.
	Fertilize monthly warm-season lawns such as zoysia with *Espoma Organic Lawn Food.* In August, zoysia lawns should receive their final fertilizer application.
	Monitor lawns for white grubs and apply Bayers Advanced Grub Control or Milky Spore to kill larvai.
	Water deepley and early in the day to encourage deep rooting and discourage fungus disease.
	Apply Sedge Hammer Turf Herbicide to control nutsedge.
Trees & Shrubs
	Trees and shrubs may be planted throughout the summer. To help reduce stress, plant in the early morning or late afternoon and water thoroughly. An application of *Wilt Pruf* immediately before transplanting can also help reduce transplant shock. After transplanting use Root Stimulator to help the plant establish itself. Organic Tree-tone fertilzer can be used in summer if needed.
	When watering tres and shrubs (especially newly planted ones), soak the root area with a slow but thorough watering by using the *Treegator*. Be aware that oscillating sprinkler may not reach the root area.
	Watch for spider mite activity. Hose off affected foliage on a regular basis to reduce activity. It may be too hot to use chemical pesticides, but organic *Safer BioNeem or Safer Soap* can be effective.
	Watch for Japanese Beetles...they can destroy a plant within days! Apply *Monterey Insect Spray* at the first sign of a japanese beetle or use Japanese Beetle Traps.
	Apply *Bayers Advanced Tree & Shrub Insect Control* to prevent damage from spider mites, Japanese Beetles, Azalea Lacebugs, scale and leaf miners.
*House Plants***
	Tropical plants enjoy being outside in the summer. Place in the shade and water and feed regularly as they will grow quickly in such ideal conditions. Summer is a good time to repot houseplants.
	Prune leggy vines such as Pothos and Philodendron to promote thicker, bushier growth. To propagate, place cuttings in water. When roots appear, pot cuttings in a good, well drained potting mix and apply Root Stimulator so plants develop strong root and vigorous plants.
	Keep a look out for various insects. Use Safer Insecticidal Soap or *Bio-Neem* to treat infestations.
	In late August, prepare to bring plants indoors by spraying with *All Seasons Spray Oil Insecticide* to kill any insects.
	Palms require special food. To keep them happy and healthy, feed quarterly with Palm-tone.
*Compost*
	Shred and compost all dead herbaceous and woody material and leaves. Use a *Geo-Bin Composter* which makes it easy to turn the compost pile regularly, and help “heat” it up to speed the decaying process by adding *Bio-excelerator* or *Pro-Start*.
	Add water to compost pile to keep moist and add fresh kitchen refuse (vegetable waste and eggshells only, *NO meat products) with a Compost Carrier*.
For Our Garden Friends
	Watch for hummingbirds that arrive in June from their winter migration. Hummers will consume up to one-half their weight in sugar or nectar each day. Use *Instant Nectar*, a hummingbird food, in your feeders and hang them close to your house. Keep your hummingbird feeders clean and full. Hummingbirds are pollinators.
	Attract hummingbirds to your garden with annuals such as petunias, salvia, snapdragons, verbena and impatiens, or perennials such as monarda, campanula, heuchera, day lilies, penstemon, phlox, or liatris. Vines and shrubs such as morning glory, trumpet vine, clematis, weigela, althea and hibiscus also attract hummingbirds.
	Rinse and fill bird baths daily and For biological mosquito control, use *Mosquito Dunks* in standing water to kill the larvae.
	Attract butterflies to your garden, by planting host plants such as parsley, snapdragons, and asclepias. Nectar plants include butterfly bush, achillea, agastache, asters, coreopsis, dianthus, echinacea, heliotrope, lavender, daisies, lantana, and scabiosa.

Happy Gardening!
Click here for a printable pdf version