Hot Sun, No Fun...
What a surprise it was to have a bit of rain yesterday. It
wasn't much but I sure liked the way it fell, slow and steady. I
also had my sprinkler running at the same time. I took advantage
of the rain and cloud cover to really give everything a good
soaking. Yesterday was such a nice reprieve from what we have
been experiencing for the last two weeks. It is going to be
another scorcher today with temperatures close to 100. Sure does
feel like August.
We have had
several e-mails asking about watering and whether they are
watering too much or not enough.
Last week's newsletter was
dedicated to watering so if you missed it check it out. It has
some great rules of thumb to follow when the weather is hot and
humid and rain is scarce. Remember also that if a plant is
drooping it may not necessarily be thirsty. My black-eyed Susan's
always look like they are thirsty during the late afternoon. Once
the sun goes down they pop right back up and look fine. Don't be
fooled by the plant, pay attention to
the soil.
If you are
in the mood to plant there are a lot of good bargains out there.
I know
Family Tree Nursery and several other garden centers are
slashing prices to move stock. Now is the perfect time to
purchase some plants you wanted before but just didn't buy.
Planting now is fine you will just want to be diligent about
watering. I highly recommend using a root stimulator to help
stimulate good root growth. What not give it a try?
~
Shelly
Hey Bud, Get Outta' Here...
One of the most common pests of petunias is the budworm
caterpillar. These small green worms appear in late June and July
and feed on the flower buds, making small holes in the
buds and the leaves. You won't often see the worm itself.
Instead, you'll see the droppings, which
resemble small, black seeds.
Because of their size, removing them by hand
may not be practical. If you are so inclined, Dipel,
Thuricide, Talstar and Scimitar are reasonably effective
insecticides. Sevin and Diazinon aren't effective, because
budworms have become resistant to them. If left unchecked, the
presence of the caterpillars will cause your
petunias to stop blooming.
Source
Plan for Halloween By Planting
Pumpkins Now...
Want to grow a perfect pumpkin for your very own jack-o-lantern
this year? It may sound like a long way off but depending on the
variety you want to grow you need to get your pumpkins planted
now for carving on Halloween. Typically pumpkins mature in 90 -
120 days. Check your seed pack to determine your pumpkin's
specific days to maturity and work backwards from October 31st.
Remember
that these things get big. Allow 8 to 10 feet between rows
and place seeds every 2 feet in the row. When fruit begins
to appear it's time to start protecting the pumpkin from rot.
Try placing a barrier under ripening pumpkins to lift them off
the soil. A material that doesn't trap water
is best.
Seen Any Spittlebugs?
The spittlebug derives its name from the white, frothy" spittle"
the nymphs produce. Adults are large, black leafhoppers about
1/3-inch long with two red stripes that go crosswise across the
back. The eyes and abdomen are bright red. Though the nymphs
resemble the adults, they are smaller and wingless. Color varies
from yellow to white to orange, but the eyes are always red.
Spittlebug
nymphs suck plant juices like aphids, but they remove so much
water and carbohydrates that excess fluid is produced. They cover
themselves with this fluid and then produce the spittle by
bubbling air from the tip of the abdomen into the liquid. The
spittle mass helps protect the nymphs from drying and from
predators.
Spittlebugs
normally do not achieve high enough populations to cause damage.
If they do, forcefully hosing the plants several times should
achieve the level of control needed.
Source
Oh, Deer...
Gardeners that live near open parks and other "nearly wild" areas
are often plagued by deer. Deer damage to plants is both costly
and frustrating. While tall fences remain the most effective way
to keep deer away they are not always practical. Some gardeners
have had success with plantings that don't attract deer (or even
repel them). The Missouri Department of Conservation produced a
list of these plants and it can be
seen here...
Timely Tomato Tips...
Tomatoes are growing vigorously now. However, the end of
spring and the onset of hot, dry weather can lead to several
problems in tomatoes. Tomatoes that experience early vigorous
growth often drop some blossoms during the transition to summer
weather. Don't worry. New blooms should develop rapidly to
replace the fallen ones.
Also,
tomato plants may be subject to leaf curl where the leaves roll
up from the edges. This is a short-term condition that develops
as the tomato is trying to reduce it's leaf surface to allow the
roots to develop.
Source
Beware Brown Patch...
Brown patch is showing up all over the
area - including our front yard! This turf disease is favored by
warm night temperatures and extended periods of leaf wetness. If
you go outside in the morning and the lawn is covered with dew
and the temperature is in the high 60s and above, it means that
conditions are right for brown patch. During severe
outbreaks, the fungus may invade the lower leaf sheaths and crown
and kill plants. But in most cases the turfgrass can recover from
brown patch. This recovery may take two to three weeks depending
on weather.
Unfortunately
there is no way to eliminate brown patch from
a lawn as it will persist indefinitely in the soil. In
almost all cases, the limiting factor for brown patch development
is the weather. Although you can’t eliminate the fungus, cultural
practices – especially irrigation – can help control it.
-
Don't water in the evening; instead,
water early in the morning. This will help decrease the number
of hours the leaf tissue remains wet and susceptible to
infection. The frequency of irrigation is not as important as
the time of day you do it.
-
Don't overfertilize, and certainly don't
fertilize when brown patch is active.
-
Make sure your seeding or overseeding rates
are not too high.
Source
A Cut Above...
By the look (and feel) of things the
next few months will likely be very taxing for your fescue or
bluegrass lawn. Long, hot and humid days, with little rainfall
can make even the greenest lawns wilt. While it's probably not
possible to keep your turf looking perfectly lush and green all
summer you can prepare it for the heat by raising the cutting
height of your mower. Fescues and bluegrass should be cut at a
height of 3 to 3½ inches. Determine your mowing frequency
by cutting no more than one-third of the blade height with each
cutting. This means cutting when it reaches 4½ inches or
so.
Finally... "Climb the mountains
and get their good tidings. Nature's peace will flow into you as
sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their freshness
into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop off
like falling leaves." ~
John Muir |