Seasonal Tips for 2008
(Summer)

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We Can All Use a Little Water Sense...

OK so Summer is officially here and we felt it with the unseasonably high temperatures and high humidity during the month of June. IT HAS BEEN HOT! Right now we get about 9 1/2 hours of sunlight per day and although the days begin to shorten we will continue to see temperatures rise right thru August. Now come the fun months when we can see the fruit of our hard work; Hostas are in their prime; lavenders are in full bloom, and I am picking lettuce daily from my garden and watching other vegetables blossom and begin to set their fruit... Oh the joys of summer.

We now need to be careful not to over-water. Only water established plants deeply once, maybe twice per week. Over-watering lawns and vegetable gardens late in the day can cause fungus and death. Continue to water potted plants more frequently as they dry out quickly. Watering in the early morning is better because the foliage dries quicker and the moisture works its way into the leaves before the plants are stressed from the mid day sun. Watering in the mid day is just a waste of time and water, not a good conservation plan.

With the temperatures on the rise comes the appearance of insects. Uninvited culprits like Aphids, white flies and spider mites just happen to thrive in hot dry conditions. Watch your plants carefully and check them often so that you can catch them before they destroy your garden. Following a good watering routine will help prevent these unwanted guests from establishing a foothold on your plants. If you do find you have a pest problem, there are numerous insecticides on the market that work. Also, do some investigation and try natural preventatives to combat insects before they appear.

Although we do need to be careful not to over-water, moisture is a vital ingredient to the success of any living plant. Flowers will continue to grow, but may get leggy as the summer continues. A good pinch back on annuals helps them to fill out and will give you continued color for the rest of the summer. Only fertilize lightly and make sure to only fertilize after watering. If you have plants in pots continue to water and fertilize every two to four weeks thru July.

One way to help with the conservation of water is to consider planting and incorporating heat tolerant plants into your landscape. Maybe try one or two different varieties and select a color that blends into your existing landscape. The list of available trees, shrubs, perennials, and annuals just continues to grow and many nurseries and catalogue companies have increased their selection. Visit your local nursery and ask questions about different seasonal selections. They are always willing to guide your to the right selection. On line sources like the NC State University continues to update their list of plants. They also give you a good description of the plant (growing conditions, size, light exposure).

What we are really trying to express is the environmentally friendly philosophy that we are all trying to act upon - the Practice of Water-Wise Gardening.... the use of a drip irrigation systems minimizes water use and is over 90% efficient, whereas hand watering and sprinklers are only 50-70% efficient. Checking the soil moisture with a moisture meter also helps.

Practice Water-wise Garden Design and Plant Selection by using xeriscapic plants (those that require little water, many of which are native. Many of these plants can be purchased from special catalogues like High Country Gardens (www.highcountrygardens.com) or Well Sweep Herb Farm in Murray, NJ. Using native plants is a bonus because they often will establish faster to their native soil, then grow and thrive and give you many years of pleasure. Planting in the spring or in the fall will help the plants establish themselves to their new home quicker with cooler soil conditions and seasonal rains.

Remember to mulch properly.... The best way to prevent water loss. Save rainwater whenever possible from stormwater, but do your homework on storage. We do not want to encourage sitting water and invite mosquito problems. Mulch will also help with the weed control. If you do not mulch you will just have to get down on your hands and knees and pull the water robbing uninvited plants OUT! They are great robbers of both water and nutrients so PLEASE WEED!

I know this seems like a lot to do in July, but if you have been keeping up to now you will have plenty of time to enjoy the month. Observe and take Pictures, and Plan what you want to do for next year. Take a nice cold drink, a good book, and sit back and take in the July blooms. Invite friends and try a new recipe with vegetables and herbs from the garden.... After all;

‘Deep Summer is when laziness finds respectability’ – Sam Keen