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
Read: A Few More Summer Tips
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.
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.
Catch water from your A/C - plants love it! Indoor dehumidifiers too!
Consider adding a rainwater collection system connected to your gutters - we can help.
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.
FIX YELLOW SPOTS
Apply organic Nature’s Blend, or conventional Hi Yield Iron Plus to yellow spots in lawn.
MOW
Keep St. Augustine cut to about 3”, Bermuda at 1”– 2”.
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!
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, and Organic Fungicide 5
Conventional: Bonide Fung-onil ready-to-use, Fertilome Systemic ready-to-spray
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
Prepare Your Garden Spaces for Fall Planting
- Clean areas of unwanted weeds and debris.
- Break up the soil and add organic matter like Cotton Burr Compost, and turn or till it in.
- Mix in dried molasses and organic fertilizer like Medina Growin’ Green.
- Water and let it rest until you are ready to plant.
- Keep it watered to encourage beneficial microbes in the soil.
Read: Organic Gardening
Read: Comfort for Summer: Shade Cloth
Watch: A Great Trick to Green Up Your Lawn & Garden!
What To Plant
Late Summer Vegetable Transplants
Plant tomato, eggplant, and pepper transplants after August 10th. Be sure to keep watered well and evenly shaded from the hot afternoon sun.
Read: Homegrown Tastes Best
Garden Guide: Fall Tomatoes
Fall Vegetable Seeds
Seeds of beans, cabbage, peas, winter squash, and turnips. Start in pots and then transplant to garden. Protect from intense heat and sun.
Pumpkin Seeds
If you want pumpkins by Halloween, plant your seeds by August 10th.
Bluebonnet Seeds
Sow bluebonnet seeds now for spring bloom.
Tropicals
All tropicals including allamandas, mandevillas, palms, pentas, blue daze, hamelia, hibiscus, esperanza, and plumbago will continue growing and blooming.
Summer Annuals
Annuals such as zinnias, moss rose, gomphrena, purslane, periwinkles, caladium and coleus will continue to flourish.
“House” Plants
Don’t forget that “house plants” are generally tropical in nature and love a nice shady or semi shady patio to put on the best show. Ficus, schefflera, corn plants, dracaenas, ivies, ponytail palms, and bromeliads all like heat and humidity.
All container grown trees, shrubs, and vines.
Garden Guide: Planting Trees, Shrubs, and Groundcovers
Read: Crape Myrtle Season
Prune
- Continue removing faded flowers from annuals and perennials to encourage new blooms.
- Faded blooms and seed pods from crape myrtle to promote additional blooming
- Dead wood from trees and shrubs
- Trim plants as needed to maintain size and shape.
- Palms as needed
- Poinsettias early in month – last pruning for December color
Water
- Check all newly planted material for water every day.
- Check pots, containers and hanging baskets often, as they dry out quickly and need more water.
- Apply mulch as needed to help conserve moisture.
- Make arrangements for someone to water if leaving for more than 2 days, especially with new plants.
- Follow City Water Restriction Guidelines.
Fertilize
All trees and shrubs
Fertilize organically with Milorganite, Medina Growin Green, or Plant Tone.
Annuals and perennials
Fertilize organically with Medina Growin Green, or Hasta Gro, or conventionally with Osmocote Time Release Granules.
All hibiscus and tropical bloomers
Fertilize organically with Maestro Gro-Rose Glo, or conventionally with Hibiscus Food.
All granular fertilizer should be watered in well
Lawn Care
- 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 anytime, and Bermuda seed anytime this month.
- Apply organic Nature’s Blend, or conventional Hi Yield Iron Plus to yellow spots in lawn.
- Mow as required. Keep St. Augustine cut to about 3”, Bermuda at 1” – 2”.
- Watch for Chinch Bugs and Grub Worms.
- Water well every 7 to 10 days.
Read: Use the Cycle Soak Method
Garden Guide: Lawn Care
Watch Out For
Mealy bugs
Treat organically with Neem Oil, Spinosad Soap, or Bee Safe 3-in-1 or conventionally with Cyonara or Bonide Systemic.
Read: Mealy Bugs are Here!
Chinch bugs in lawns
Treat organically with Spinosad or Diatomaceous Earth, or conventionally with Cyonara.
Spider mites
Treat organically with Neem Oil, Spinosad Soap, or Bee Safe 3-in-1 or conventionally with Cyonara or Bonide Systemic.
Note: Spraying your plants with seaweed extract helps repel spider mites, and it’s good for your plants too!
Fleas and ticks
Treat lawns organically with Spinosad, or Diatomaceous Earth, or conventionally with Cyonara.
Borers in mesquites, ash, and yucca
Treat organically with Spinosad.
Fungus, Powdery Mildew
Treat organically with Fungicide 5, Neem Oil, or Bee Safe 3 in 1, or with Fertilome Broad Spectrum Fungicide, or Systemic Fungicide.
Unwanted caterpillars – remember that many caterpillars turn into the butterflies that we love and enjoy!
If necessary, treat organically with Thuricide or Spinosad.
Read: Darn Those Summer Bugs!
