ANNUALS -plant annuals as soon as you get them home- they dry out very quickly in their containers.
-when you take them out, gently loosen matted roots and try to plant in the evening on an overcast day. be sure to water and mulch well.
-as it gets hot, water often as annuals have shallow root systems.
-water the soil rather than the plant to avoid mildew and disease.
-pinch off faded blooms to promote new growth reduce risk of fungal infection.
-stake tall plants of those with heavy blooms.
PERENNIALS -plant or transplant on an overcast day or in the evening, cut foliage back by one third to one half to minimize moisture loss and water and mulch sufficiently.
-water and mulch thoroughly.
LAWNS
-if you need to patch an area of your lawn, use sod. Weeds tend to take over when starting seed in the summer.
-now is not the time to aerate, fertilize or treat the lawn as it is stressed in hot weather.
-water cool weather grasses every 10 days if there is little or no rainfall.
-if the tips of your grass browns, it is a sign of a dull mower blade as opposed to heat or disease.
TREES & SHRUBS
-limit pruning during summer heat.
-consider drip irrigation or a drip hose to combat potential drought.
-watch out for japanese beetles. rather than using pheromone traps, knock them off into soapy water or use a spray.
