Be sure to put a good puddle under Hydrangeas to keep them blooming and looking good.
July marks middle of the summer gardening season.
Expect the hottest temperatures and humidity of the season this month.
Having said that, here are a few gardening tips to help plants through this tough time of the year.
Be sure to check trees and shrubs weekly for sucking and chewing insects and inspect for fungal diseases as well.
Remember most insects are active in the evening or early morning hours before the heat of the day, usually before 10 a.m.
Spray your plants in the early mornings, if possible, to be most effective.
We are seeing crape myrtle scale showing up a lot and you need to be very proactive with a spray program, as they lay lots of eggs that hatch into new generations.
Use Horticultural oil making three separate applications 10 days apart, to be sure to completely kill these insects.
You can also use a systemic insecticide, also making three applications. It may even be beneficial to use the horticultural oil first as it coats the insect causing it to smother, but this is a one time kill, and offers no continual benefits, which is why you must apply three applications.
The systemic does provide the benefit of being absorbed by the leaves and getting into the plant which will help to kill the insects when they feed, but two more applications are still recommended.
Japanese beetles will be coming out of the ground and have enormous appetites. They feed on cherry and plum trees, grapevine plants, crape myrtles, Japanese maples, roses and hibiscus.
If you choose to use traps, place them away from any of your desirable plants and be sure to install a new lure, as this is also their mating season and this is how the traps are effective.
I also suggest using Bonide’s Yard and Garden Eight, which will kill them on contact and provide about two weeks of protection. Two more sprays at two weeks apart will take care of them for the season.
Lawns and established landscape plantings need at least an inch of rain a week to remain healthy and looking good.
Remember to water the ground under and around your plants but never the plant itself as you will most certainly scorch the plants turning them crispy brown. Water lawns in the mornings before 10 am as to not scorch the grass and it also washes away any fungal diseases the dew may have attached to the grass.
Never over-water your lawn as this too can create disease and fungal issues.
To help in this process simply place an empty tuna or cat-food can half way in the middle of where the sprinkler is and the edge of the range of the sprinkler.
When it is filled you have applied an inch of rain. Water plants in the early mornings or after 7 p.m., in the evenings.
Put a good puddle under Hydrangeas to keep them blooming and looking good. Remember one good slow deep rooted watering is much better than a little shot here and there.
This makes the roots grow deeper in the soil.
Remember to mow your lawn at the recommended cutting height of 3-4 inches.
This helps conserve water, slows weed germination and keeps the grass healthy. Also remember to keep those blades sharped and mow in a different direction each time.
Before leaving on vacation be sure to arrange for care of your indoor and outdoors plants. Remember to keep your vegetable garden producing you need to harvest consistently.
Consider pruning back the annual flowers in your deck, porch and pool planters and fill in any soil that may have shrunk away. Doing this will be easier on the plants and they will be almost ready to bloom again when you return from vacation.
Remember to take care of your body while gardening, wear a hat, put on sun screen and wear sunglasses.
(Editor’s Note: Ken Morgan is the owner of Robin’s Nest Floral and Garden Center in Easton, Md.)
