One thing you have to do for sure is
stay cool during the summer when working in the landscape. It is hot
outdoors at this time of the year and many gardeners have seen
temperatures approaching 100 degrees.
First dress comfortably. Short sleeves and short pants are standard for
most gardeners. Also if you are going to be in the sun wear a hat.
Actually one secret to staying cool is working in the shade as much as
possible. If you must be in the sun find this work to do in the morning
and during late afternoon hours.
Don’t forget your sunscreen. They say the higher the numbers the better. I
use sunscreen everyday on my face and most times on my arms too. Then take
a container of water with you and enjoy it frequently. We do not want any
heat exhaustion in the landscape.
Lastly don’t forget to take rests. Some gardeners wear bathing suits when
working and take frequent dives in the pool during hot times of the day or
hose themselves down with cool water. My wife Joani also likes to keep a
wet towel around her neck. She says it’s cooling and she can just shake it
in the breeze to get it cool again. I like to keep a small towel with me
to wipe the sweat off.
Gardening can be fun during the summer but there are some things you just
have to do to protect yourself. Now here are some more Gotta Do’s to keep
your landscape in shape and have some fun too.
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Tom's Gotta-do's
for July, 2009
Control crabgrass and broadleaf weeds
invading turf.
Repair bare spots and declining grass
left from drought with plugs, sod or seed.
Summers can be hot but are usually
not dry; reduce lawns waterings to only as needed.
Till problem soils deeply before
adding new grass.
Incorporate organic matter into water
resistant sands before planting a new lawn.
Rains often supply adequate moisture
during the summer months; extra waterings may not be needed.
Operate
irrigation systems manually to avoid over watering.
Regreen yellow lawns with an iron or
nitrogen only feeding.
Avoid sodding shady spots during the
rainy season to prevent decline due to rot problems.
Sharpen mower blades, change engine
oil and clean or replace air filters regularly.
Tomato, eggplant and pepper plantings
are declining; remove the plants when the harvest is over.
Locate or order seeds now for mid
summer plantings; store in the refrigerator.
Feed summer vegetable plantings
monthly.
Install micro-sprinklers to conserve
water in the garden.
Cover vacant garden soil with clear
plastic for eight weeks to bake out pests.
Spray citrus trees with a low
toxicity oil product to control greasy spot, mites and scale.
Give fruit trees light trimmings as
needed to direct growth.
Most plants should have recovered
from winter cold damage; replace as needed.
Remove 4- to 6-inches of new growth
from poinsettias to encourage compact growth
Summer rains usually provide adequate
water for established trees and shrubs; extra water is seldom
needed.
It’s not to late to trim trees but
hurry to prevent wind damage during summer storms.
Add new trees, shrubs and ground
covers.
Create the tropical look with foliage
plants.
Remove declining flowers and replant
with summer selections.
Divide and replant perennials
including shasta daises, gerbera, bromeliads and many bulbs.
Finish pruning azaleas and gardenias
during early July or wait until next year.
Root 4- to 6-inch tip cuttings from
shrubs and perennials.
Give roses a summer grooming and
control black spot.
Feed outdoor container plantings
including orchids every two weeks.
Transplant palms and sagos during the
rainy season.
Feed water gardens monthly.
Move light starved plants outdoors to
a shady location.
Make sure foliage plants have
adequate drainage
Ask a friend to care for your plants
during vacation or move them outside to a shady spot to catch the
rains.
Transplant root bound foliage plants
into larger containers.
Trim overgrown house plants; use
trimmings for cuttings.
Vegetables: Boniato, calabaza, cherry tomato, okra, Southern pea,
Seminole pumpkin, sweet cassava, sweet potato and yard long bean;
start transplants of eggplant, peppers and tomatoes from seed in
mid July.
Herbs: Anise, basil, bay laurel, chive, dill, ginger, Mexican
tarragon, mint, oregano, sage, sweet marjoram and thyme.
Bulb-type plants: Achimenes, African iris, caladium, canna,
crinum, crocosmia, day lily, eucharis lily, gladiolus, gloriosa
lily, peacock ginger, society garlic, spiderwort, rain lily and
walking iris.
