NOT YOUR GARDEN VARIETY ADVICE.

We've earned a reputation for understanding plants, landscaping, gardening techniques and all things outdoors. So it's not surprising people come to us for help. Click on the monthly gardening advice to start growing your garden.

JULY

IN LAWNS:

• Do not apply another application of lawn fertilizer this month, cool season turf grasses go dormant when soil temperatures are above 75 degrees F.
• Apply grub controls now, if not done in June – monitor for animals that will be hunting for grubs, use repellents if necessary.

• Mow lawn at 2 to 3 inches. Leave clippings to return nutrients to the soil.
• Irrigate if weekly rainfall is not 1-2 inches, it is best to water two to three times per week instead of every day.

IN THE ORNAMENTAL GARDEN:

• Continue spraying perennials like peonies, phlox and roses to protect from fungal diseases like botrytis blossom blight, black spot and powdery mildew. Use systemic fungicides like Immunox or Bonomyl; or use contact fungicides like Chlorothalanil or Mancozeb, and re-treat after rain.
• Continue applications of fungicides to crab apples and hawthorns every 2 weeks through July if rainy conditions continue for best control of Apple Scab & Cedar-hawthorn Rust.
• Apply final application of fertilizer to perennials and roses before the end of the month.
• Do not prune spring-flowering shrubs and ornamental trees after July 15th to avoid pruning off next years flowers.
• Monitor roses for insects and disease, especially black spot. Remove infected foliage and spray immediately with fungicides listed above.

IN THE EDIBLE GARDEN:

• Monitor your rain gauge, gardens need an average of 1 inch of water per week, water if rain is not sufficient.
• Harvest vegetables and herbs on a regular basis to continue production.
• Continue monitoring for insects and diseases, removing them quickly to control populations, spraying with cold water to reduce them or using pesticides like Sevin, Eight or Insecticidal soap.

AUGUST

This year the most important advice is to WATER your trees, shrubs, perennials and lawns. The yearly rainfall totals look normal because of the heavy rains in the spring, but our plants are severely drought stressed now. Water will be the bottom line factor to survival.

IN LAWNS:

• Apply the most important application of lawn fertilizer this month, cool season turf grasses recover from the heat when night temperatures drop and go into the most active growth of the year during the last two weeks of August through the month of September.
• Continue to monitor for grubs, use fast acting insecticides like Diazinon or Trichlorfon to kill them and reduce turf damage.
• Apply repellents for animals that are digging up the lawn hunting for grubs.
• Irrigate if weekly rainfall is not 1-2 inches, it is best to water two to three times per week instead of every day.

IN THE ORNAMENTAL GARDEN:

• Continue spraying perennials like peonies, phlox and roses to protect from fungal diseases like botrytis blossom blight, black spot and powdery mildew. Use systemic fungicides like Immunox or Bonomyl; or use contact fungicides like Chlorothalanil or Mancozeb, and re-treat after rain.
• Do not apply granular fertilizer to perennials, roses, trees or shrubs during this month to prevent lush new growth that will not go dormant – wait until the fall application.
• Monitor roses for insects and disease, especially black spot. Remove infected foliage and spray immediately with fungicides listed above.

IN THE EDIBLE GARDEN:

• Monitor your rain gauge, gardens need an average of 1-2 inches of water per week, water if rain is not sufficient.
• Harvest vegetables and herbs on a regular basis to continue production.
• Continue monitoring for insects and diseases, removing them quickly to control populations, spraying with cold water to reduce them or using pesticides like Sevin, Eight or Insecticidal soap.
• Start seeds now for fall harvest of cool season vegetables.

SEPTEMBER

At this time of year the most important advice is to continue to monitor the weekly rainfall to avoid water stress as the plants prepare to go dormant for winter.

IN LAWNS:

• Apply the most important application of lawn fertilizer this month, cool season turf grasses go into the most active growth of the year during the month of September, and recover from the heat when night temperatures drop.
• If the weed count is high in your lawn, use broadleaf weed killing herbicides after the fertilizer application. Their metabolism will be increased and the herbicide will work faster.
• If there are dead spots larger than 6 inches in diameter, re-seed the lawn now. The soil is warm and the nights are cool, so the germination rate is quicker and the results are more successful. Remember to keep the soil moist for the next 14-21 days to get the new turf established.
• Continue to monitor for grubs, use fast acting insecticides like Dylox to kill them and reduce turf damage.
• Apply repellents for animals that are digging up the lawn hunting for grubs.
• Irrigate if weekly rainfall is not 1-2 inches, it is best to water two to three times per week instead of every day.

IN THE ORNAMENTAL GARDEN:

• Purchase spring flowering bulbs now to get the best selection and the freshest bulbs. Store them indoors in paper bags until the soil temperatures drop to 60 degrees F, when it is best to plant them in the garden.
• Plant pansies, kale, asters and mums for fall color.
• Divide and transplant perennials before the end of the month, so that they have enough time to establish roots before the ground freezes solidly.
• Plant trees and shrubs this month for good root establishment before winter. Spray perennials like peonies, phlox and roses to protect from fungal diseases like botrytis blossom blight, black spot and powdery mildew.
• Use systemic fungicides like Immunox or Bonomyl; or use contact fungicides like Chlorothalanil or Mancozeb, and re-treat after rain.
• Continue to apply slug bait (granular or liquid forms) to reduce populations of slugs otherwise they will go dormant over winter and return next year.
• Do not apply granular fertilizer to perennials, roses, trees or shrubs during this month to prevent lush new growth that will not go dormant – wait until October.
• Monitor roses for insects and disease, especially black spot. Remove infected foliage and spray immediately with fungicides listed above.
• Stop deadheading the roses this month, let the fruit or “hips” form to encourage the plants to go dormant and get ready for winter.

IN THE EDIBLE GARDEN:

• Monitor your rain gauge, gardens need an average of 1-2 inches of water per week, water if rain is not sufficient.
• Harvest vegetables and herbs on a regular basis to continue production.
• Continue monitoring for insects and diseases, removing them quickly to control populations, spraying with cold water to reduce them or using pesticides like Sevin, Eight or Insecticidal soap.
• Start seeds now for fall harvest of cool season vegetables.