Fertilize
lawns early this month for the last time before September. Lawns
go somewhat dormant in the heat and do not need fertilizer.
Don't mow your lawn in the same
direction every time. Vary your path so that the turf and soil
don't form compacted mower ruts. During very hot weather, mow
higher than usual to shade and cool grass roots.
Water the lawn according to temperature
and soil moisture, not the calendar. Water deeply when the top
one or two inches are dry. Saturate the soil to a depth of four
or five inches.
Water gardens and lawns in the
early morning when temperatures are low to minimize evaporation.
Deep
water trees and shrubs a couple of times during hot weather
by letting a hose run slowly enough for the water to soak into
the ground directly beneath the plant.
Good watering methods will help
plants flourish in spite of the hot weather. Check plants frequently
and water enough to get water to the root zone. Avoid overwatering
and saturating the soil, which encourages root rot.
Do not fertilize trees or shrubs,
especially fruit trees, after mid-July. Fertilizing encourages
new growth that will not harden off in time to avoid winter injury.
To discourage mites, hose dust
from evergreens, leafy shrubs and hedges. Daily harsh water sprays
will dislodge dust and mites, preventing a build-up of either.
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Keep
weeding! Weeds compete with desirable plants for nutrients and
water.
Side
dress vegetables and annual flowers with fertilizer.
All
annuals and many perennials will continue to flower after dead
blossoms are removed. Keep faded flower blossoms pinched off.
Pull
out and destroy tomato and potato plants that are infected with
bacterial or fungal leaf spots before the problem spreads.
Start harvesting
herbs (for kitchen
use. Frequent cutting will encourage new growth.
Harvest
onions and garlic.
When their stalks begin to yellow, bend them down flat on the
ground and wait for them to yellow completely. Then carefully
dig the bulbs and allow them to dry for a day or two in a shaded
spot. Brush dirt from the skins and bring indoors to store in
a cool, ventilated, dry place.
Pick
beans and summer squash before they get oversized and tough.
This allows the plant to save energy for ongoing production.
Blossom-end
rot (bottoms of tomatoes turn black and start to rot) is
caused by a calcium deficiency in the plant. It is aggravated
by fluctuating soil moisture. Use mulch to conserve water and
help maintain even soil moisture.
Prune
summer-bearing raspberries by cutting out canes that fruited
this year.
Record
harvest dates of vegetables and any particular growing problems,
including insects and pests.
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