North City Park Civic Association

Garden Tips For Summer

Jun 20, 2003

In The Garden
Regularly water tomatoes 1 inch per week, and mulch plants to retain soil moisture. This will help the fruit to remain intact and not crack as it matures. Water garden plants before applying any pest treatment. Otherwise, chemicals and organic controls, such as soaps, can cause severe leaf burn. In early July, cut back tall perennials, such as Joe-Pye weed, asters, goldenrod, and ironweed, to reduce final plant height at bloom time. Make successive sowings of quick crops, such as radish and lettuce, to keep the harvest continuous. Do not knock down the webs of large black-and-yellow garden spiders. These weavers consume amazing amounts of insects.
Lawns
Raise the height on your mower. Taller grass withstands the stress of summer?’s heat better. If gubs are creating bare sposts, apply a grub-control product to combat those root-chewing pests. Water as needed, 1 inch per week is ideal, but 15 minutes per area three times a week as drought restrictions permit, will keep your grass growing.
Reprinted from Lowe?’s Garden Club courtesy of Strella Jasper.