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July 25, 2001

Squirrels Falling From Cedars...
What a relief!  The weather has changed and for now the high humidity is gone.  I have to tell you that after having two weeks of perfect weather on vacation (80's, no humidity) it was a little tough adjusting.  I diligently watered but my plants were slow to respond.  The rain we received Tuesday evening was not nearly enough.  Hopefully more is on the way.  Wouldn't it be great to have a couple of days of rain?  You know the kind - the soft, warm, summer rain that you can play in.  Oh, I am a dreamer! 

If you ask Kevin about our gardens he will tell you that they look great considering the conditions.  On the other hand if you ask me there is always more dead-heading and trimming that needs to be done.  Even in the extreme heat we were having I would find myself out in the garden unable to resist its calling.  Of course I would try to do most of my work in the morning but occasionally would venture out in the early evening.  Once gardening is in your blood it does not go away.  I recently spoke to my parents who live in McPherson, Kansas and they really need some rain - even more so than we do.  My parents own seven acres and have planted a varied assortment of gardens.  My mother jokingly said to me recently, "I think that I should grow some sprouts so that I will see your father more often."  It is a passion for him and the dirt keeps him young.  Funny how my father and I are so much alike. 

From the "be careful what you wish for" department we have been dealing with a dead squirrel problem in our neighborhood.  There's some suspicion that the heat is playing a role in a number of dead squirrels found in the neighborhood recently but we're still not certain.  Is anyone else noticing this?  Now, I'm not going to complain about a couple of dead squirrels here and there.  In Westwood they are a menace to my yard and garden.  Needless to say there have not been any elaborate burial ceremonies honoring the dead. 

Fall is right around the corner so start planning for planting.  Oh yes, cooler weather will be here soon and it will be the perfect time to plant perennials.  As you will read later in the newsletter it's already time to get started on fall vegetables.  Visit our sponsors for ideas if you are needing some advice.  They are always willing to help!

~ Shelly  

Drinks For The Droopy?
It's not uncommon to venture out to the garden at the end of a hot day to find some pretty droopy plants.  Don't immediately assume that they need to be watered.  It may be that there is adequate moisture in the soil but your plant's roots just can't keep up with the needs of the leaves.  If the soil is already moist you are better off letting the plants catch up on their own overnight.  If they're still droopy in the morning give them a drink.

Stink Bugs Stalk Tomatoes...
Our friends at K-State Extension report they are starting to see samples of tomatoes with golden-yellow to yellow to pink to white spots on the fruit.  This type of damage is often caused by stink bugs - the shield-shaped insects that emit a foul odor when disturbed.  The stink bug injures the fruit by using its mouthparts to probe the tomato.  Color development is affected wherever probing occurs resulting in the off-color cloudy spots.  Heavy feeding by the stink bugs may result in so many spots coalescing that the tomatoes acquire an overall golden color.  If you look closely, you can see the pinprick-sized puncture wounds in the middle of the spots.  Hard, whitish, callous tissue develops beneath the skin at the area of wounding.  Unfortunately by the time the spots are noticed the stink bugs are often long gone making control impossible.  Often gardeners never notice the insects in the first place.  Stink bug damage does not directly limit the use of the tomatoes and affected tomatoes are safe to consume.

Source

Pesticide Problem Prevention...
During the hot, rain scarce days of summer it is especially important to take care when applying pesticides.  Make sure you take the time to water your plants several hours before applying pesticides.  You see, those drought-stressed plants have less water in their plant tissues and the chemicals that enter the leaves will consequently be more concentrated.  This in turn can lead to an unwanted burn-like condition on the leaves.

Rose Tips by Al Karsten...
August is right around the corner and your roses, as always, have some very specific needs.  Hot summer heat means disease and pest prevention is critical.  Also, the fertilizing you do in August may well determine whether your roses will survive the coming winter.  Your roses deserve the best care.  Do it right and read August Rose Tips by Al Karsten...

Start Fall Veggies Now...
Beginning now and over the next few weeks you can start to set out broccoli, cabbage, and cauliflower transplants for your fall garden.  You can also sow seeds of collards, kale, sweet corn, summer squash, carrots, beets and turnips. 

If you're planning a fall harvest of vegetables remember that the late-summer heat can really put a strain on seeds and seedlings.  To improve your success apply a thin mulch over the rows immediately after sowing the fall crop.  Mulching keeps the soil cooler, prevents the rapid drying of moist soil, and protects seedlings as they emerge.  Make sure the mulch is thin enough that it doesn't interfere with seedling emergence.  

Bonus - Vegetables maturing in the fall often have better flavor because of the cooler growing conditions.  Yum!

What's Hot On The Hotline...
Nothing is quite as hot as the recent weather but many gardeners have been calling the Hotline with good old summer questions about lawn pests, tomato production, and even tomato-napping squirrels.  It's all here in this week's What's Hot on the Hotline... 

Is Your Turf Telling You Something?
Did you know your lawn might be sending you signals that it is thirsty?  Before more serious symptoms arise many turf grasses in need of moisture will lie flat after being walked on.  Look behind you as you cross the yard.  Leaving footprints?  Time to water!

Remember it is better to give your lawn a good soaking only once or twice a week rather than many lighter waterings.  Also, always water in the early morning.  Afternoon watering wastes water and evening watering promotes turf diseases.

Finally...
"We go in withering July
To ply the hard incessant hoe;
Panting beneath the brazen sky
We sweat and grumble, but we go."

~ Ruth Pitter, 1897-1992, The Diehards, 1941

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