Lawn Care
FERTILIZE
Organic fertilizers such as Milorganite and Medina Growin Green are excellent fertilizers that feed plants and soil and are the best choice during hot, dry periods.
LAY NEW SOD
Lay new sod anytime, and Bermuda seed anytime this month.
FIX YELLOW SPOTS
Apply organic Nature’s Blend, or conventional Hi Yield Iron Plus to yellow spots in lawn.
MOW
Mow as required. Keep St. Augustine cut to about 3”, Bermuda at 1”– 2”.
WATER
Water well every 7 days.
Read: Summer is Here, Time to Resume Watering
WATCH OUT FOR PESTS
Watch for Chinch Bugs and Grub Worms.
Read: Check for Chinch Bugs if Your Lawn Looks Dry Even Though You Know It’s Not!
Plant
All container grown trees, shrubs, and vines
It’s prime time to plant tropicals such as hibiscus, bougainvillea, ginger and palms.
Late spring and summer color
Zinnias, periwinkles, purslane, moss rose, gomphrena, lantana, ruellia, penta, caladiums, coleus, and more
Seeds
Sunflowers, morning glory, zinnias, and gomphrena.
Pepper and Tomato Seeds
Start seeds of peppers and tomatoes in containers to transplant in the garden in August.
Indoor Plants
Add plants to your indoor spaces to create a fresh air relaxing atmosphere.
Feed your houseplants to keep them healthy and looking their best. Hasta Gro works wonders. So does Plant Tone. And Worm Castings provide an amazing boost for houseplants too!
Houseplants that are happy & healthy will produce baby plants that are easily removed and transplanted to another container. A great way to increase your collection and share with your friends.
Fertilize
ANNUALS AND PERENNIALS
Organic: Medina Growin Green, Hasta Gro or Plant Tone
Conventional: Miracle Gro or Osmocote Time Release Granules
HIBISCUS AND TROPICAL BLOOMERS
Organic: Maestro Gro-Rose Glo
Conventional: Hibiscus Food
TREES AND SHRUBS
Organic: Milorganite, or Medina Growin Green
Prune
Dead wood from trees and shrubs
Faded blooms to encourage new blooms – especially important on perennials, tropicals, and crape myrtles
Shrubs to maintain good form
Palms, if needed
Watch out For
CATERPILLARS
Watch for caterpillars or their damage (chewed leaves).
Organic: Thuricide, Spinosad
Conventional: Cyonara
FUNGUS, POWDERY MILDEW
Organic: Neem Oil, BeeSafe 3-in-1
Conventional: Broad Spectrum Fungicide, Fertilome Systemic
WHITEFLIES
Organic: Spinosad Soap, Bee Safe 3-in-1
Conventional: Cyonara
CHINCH BUGS IN LAWNS
Organic: Diatomaceous Earth, Spinosad
Conventional: Cyonara
MEALY BUGS
Organic: Neem Oil, Insecticidal Soap, BeeSafe 3-in-1
Conventional: Cyonara, Bonide Systemic
Read: Mealy Bugs are Here
SPIDER MITES
Organic: Neem Oil, Spinosad Soap, BeeSafe 3-in-1
Conventional: Bonide Systemic, Cyonara
FLEAS AND TICKS
Organic: Spinosad, Diatomaceous Earth
Conventional: Cyonara
BORERS
Watch for Borers in mesquites, ash, and yucca.
Organic: Spinosad
Conventional: Fertilome Tree & Shrub Drench
Water-wise Gardening
MULCH
Mulch all landscape areas with at least 2-4 inches of shredded mulch.
ADJUST MOWING
Cut your grass higher so it will not dry out as quickly.
TRIMMING & CLEANUP
Trim overgrown plants with excessive foliage so they use less water.
Remove old or unsightly plants you plan to get rid of anyway.
Repot root bound patio plants.
ADJUST IRRIGATION SYSTEM
Use your irrigation system or sprinklers once a week. You can water anytime before 10:00am or after 6:00pm. Use the Cycle Soak Method found on our website. Be sure not to let water run off onto the streets and sidewalks.
FERTILIZE
Top dress lawns with Nature Blend.
Use organic fertilizers to keep plants healthy.
WATER
Install drip irrigation around your foundation and plants for slow soaking and less water waste.
You can water anytime with a hand held hose, soaker hose or drip irrigation hose provided it is equipped with a positive shut off nozzle.
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Ann says
What can we do for our Valencia orange we bought from you this Spring where some leaves on the ends of the branches are curling?
Jesse says
Hi Ann – this is most likely a watering issue. A young citrus tree will need a good soaking 2-3 times per week. Keep it mulched well (2-3″ deep) to help retain moisture and to keep grass from growing up to it. If the leaves are also discolored, it would be good to bring us a sample so we can investigate further.
James Gill says
Ann, James Gill here, and I want to add, if the orange tree is planted with the top of the rootball any lower than the surrounding ground, and especially if there was any soil placed on top of the rootball, you need to carefully replant higher. Not saying this is for sure your problem, but it is very common to plant too deep. There should be nothing but an inch of mulch on top of the rootball next to the trunk, and 2″-3″ farther away from the trunk. As Jesse said, do not let the grass grow up to the trunk, keep a 3 ft. minimum area clear of grass and just mulched. And with no rain and very hot temperatures, new plants will need water more than one day a week through the first summer.