Watering

We all know how hard you’ve worked to have a beautiful landscape. Now how do you keep it thriving and surviving the summer heat?

Check out our Top Tips for Summer Success.

Comfort for Summer: Shade Cloth

Lawn Care

Fertilize early in the month, if not already done

Fertilize organically with Milorganite or Medina Growin’ Green to your lawn and water in well, approximately 30 minutes per area.

Plant New Grass

Lay new sod or Bermuda seed anytime this month.

Fix Yellow Spots in Your Lawn

Treat organically with Nature’s Blend, or conventionally with Hi-Yield Iron Plus.

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.

Watch: How to Collect a Grass Sample

Plant

All container grown trees, shrubs, vines

It’s prime time to plant tropicals such as Hibiscus, Bougainvillea, Ginger and Palms.

Garden Guide: Water Wise Landscaping

Late spring and summer color:

Zinnias, Periwinkles, Purslane, Moss Rose, Gomphrena, Lantana, Ruellia, Penta, Caladiums, Coleus, Angelonia and more.

Read: Easy Gardening with Garden Troughs
Garden Guide: Annuals for Spring and Summer

Seeds

Sunflowers, Morning Glory, Zinnias, and Gomphrena.

Caladium Bulbs

Caladium bulbs planted now will come up quickly for instant color.

Indoor Plants

Warm temps allow you to take your indoor plants outdoors for some fresh air. Just be sure to keep them protected from the sun. Shady patios are perfect for a short stay. Wash off the dust and bring them back in nice and clean.

Read: Plants, the Perfect Rx for Clean Air

Fertilize

TOMATO & PEPPER PLANTS

Fertilize tomato and pepper plants regularly. Use organic Rose Glo,
Hasta Gro, Plant Tone, or Medina Growin Green.

Read: My Ugly Tomato Plant

ROSES

All roses with organic Maestro Gro Rose Glo

TREES & SHRUBS

Fertilize all trees and shrubs with organic Milorganite or Medina Growin’ Green.

ANNUALS AND PERENNIALS

Use organic Medina Growin’ Green, Hasta Gro, or conventional Osmocote Time Release Granules

AZALEAS, GARDENIAS, AND MAGNOLIAS

Use organic Maestro Gro-Rose Glo or Medina Growin’ Green, or conventional Espoma Azalea Food.

HIBISCUS AND TROPICAL BLOOMERS

Fertilize all tropical bloomers with organic Rose Glo or Hasta Gro, or conventional Hibiscus Food

CITRUS AND PECAN TREES

Use organic Espoma Citrus Tone, or conventional Pecan, Citrus and Fruit Tree Fertilizer

Read: How do I keep My Plants Looking Healthy Through Our Summers? Read: Organic Fertilizers 101

Prune

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). Use organic Thuricide, Spinosad, or conventional Cyonara.

Read: Texas Sage Eaten by Caterpillars?

FUNGUS, POWDERY MILDEW

Use organic Neem Oil, or conventional Systemic Fungicide

GRUB WORMS

Treat conventionally with Bonide Insect and Grub Control

Read: It's Grubworm Time Again!

CHINCH BUGS

Watch for Chinch bugs in lawns. Treat organically with Diatomaceous Earth, Spinosad, or conventionally with Cyonara RTS

Read: Check For Chinch Bugs If Your Lawn Looks Dry Even Though You Know It’s Not!

MEALY BUGS

Use organic Neem Oil, Bee Safe 3 in 1 Spray or Insecticidal Soap, Spinosad Soap, or conventional Cyonara, or Bonide Systemic

Read: Mealy Bugs are Here

SPIDER MITES

Treat organically with Neem Oil, Bee Safe 3 in 1 Spray or Spinosad Soap. Seaweed extract helps prevent them. Or, treat conventionally with Cyonara

FLEAS AND TICKS

Treat lawns with organic Spinosad, Diatomaceous Earth Crawling Insect Killer, or conventional Cyonara.

BORERS

Borers in mesquites, ash, and yucca. Treat organically with Spinosad, or conventionally with Tree and Shrub Drench.

Water

– When watering during periods of windy dry conditions, it’s important to water slowly and deeply. Be sure to watch the spray of sprinklers and adjust accordingly with the wind.

– Water all plants well after planting and regularly through the first year. Plants will begin to use more water as they grow and bloom. Outdoor potted plants dry out quickly as do hanging baskets and small annuals. Check new plants daily for water needs, many will need water every day.

– Mulch around trees and flowerbeds to conserve moisture.

– Make arrangements for someone to water if leaving for more than 2 days (especially new plants).

– Watch your perennials. Check soil moisture before watering. Many plants can die from over watering. Use a moisture meter when in doubt.

Watch: How to Collect a Grass Sample

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.

Read: Plants, the Perfect Rx for Clean Air

Read: Indoor Gardening: EZ as a ZZ!

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

All granular fertilizer should be watered in well.

Read: A Few More Summer Tips

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.

Read: Comfort for Summer: Shade Cloth

Read: Two Sprinklers, One Faucet

Plant

September is vegetable and seed month.

There are numerous selections of vegetables to be started in the garden or in containers. Come in and pick up our fall vegetable guide.

Tomatoes & Peppers

Tomatoes and peppers can be planted through the middle of the month.

Planting Guide: Our Tomato Varieties
Read: New! Grape Tomato ‘Ruby Crush’
Read: Fall Tomatoes

Herbs

A large selection of herbs will be ready to add spice to your garden.
Garden Guide: Herbs

Bluebonnets & Other Wildflowers, Nasturtiums & Fall Marigolds

Plant by seed or transplants.

Read: Fall is Wildflower Time!, Benefits of Marigolds in Your Veggie Garden, Nasturtiums – Super Pretty & Easy (Yummy Too!)

Don’t plant pansies or snapdragons until temperatures have cooled down!

There is still time to add quick summer color such as zinnias, coleus, purslane, moss rose and periwinkles.
Read: Success with Fall Flowers, Best Tips of Planting Trees This Fall, Organic Gardening, Fuel For Your Hungry Hummers

Fertilize

Tropicals

We recommend organic Maestro Rose Glo, or conventional Hibiscus Food

Vegetables

We recommend organic Medina Growin’ Green, Hasta Gro, Maestro Rose Glo or Plant Tone, or conventional Hi Yield Ammonium Sulphate.

Roses

We recommend organic Maestro Rose Glo.

Poinsettias

We recommend organic Maestro Rose Glo or Hasta Gro.

Blooming Annuals and Perennials

We recommend Organic: Medina Growin Green, Hasta Gro or Maestro Rose Glo, or conventional Hibiscus Food.

All plants that are especially stressed, or recently transplated

We recommend organic Hasta Gro Organic Fertilizer or Super Thrive

Christmas Cactus

We recommend organic Hasta Gro.

Read: How to Get Your Christmas Cactus to Bloom!
Read: It's Time to Fertilize For Fall!

Prune

Continue removing faded flowers from annuals and perennials to encourage new blooms.
Faded blooms and seedpods from crape myrtles to promote additional blooming.
Rule of thumb for fall pruning is no more than 1/3. Wait until January for heavy cutbacks.

Read: Sharp Tools for Fall Pruning!

Lawns

Apply organic Nature's Blend or Peat Moss for lawns, or conventional F-Stop granules as a preventative to brown patch fungus, which shows up as temperatures drop during fall and winter months.

Watch: Brown Patch Fungus

Apply organic Nature's Blend, Peat Moss or conventional Hi Yield Iron Plus to yellowing lawns.

Apply Nature’s Blend, Peat Moss, or Scotts Disease Ex to lawns prone to Take All Patch Fungus.

Continue to water deeply every 1 to 2 weeks if little rainfall.

Wait to apply fall fertilizer until October!

Watch: How to Collect a Grass Sample

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 Guidelines.

Read: Summer Watering 101

Weed Control

Spray only growing weeds with Captain Jacks Deadweed Brew or Horticultural Vinegar. These products kill all vegetation; so protect plants from drift or over spray.

Apply organic Corn Gluten meal, or Weed and Grass Stopper with Dimension in the fall and spring to prevent seeds from sprouting. It will not control already growing weeds.

Weed B Gon or Image can be applied once we cool down into the 80’s temps. An organic option is Captain Jack’s Lawn Weed Brew.

Watch For

Masses of worms eating your oak tree.

Treat with organic Spinosad or Thuricide, or conventional Cyonara. Read: Oak Tree Caterpillars

White Flies on tropicals and perennials, especially lantana and hibiscus.

Treat with organic Insecticidal Soap, Neem Oil, Spinosad Soap, Bee Safe 3-in-1 Spray, or conventional Cyonara or a long acting drench like Fertilome Tree & Shrub

Watch: Yucky Whitefly

Fleas and Ticks

Treat lawns with organic Spinosad, or Diatomaceous Earth Crawling Insect Killer, or conventional Cyonara

Mealy Bugs

Treat with organic Bee Safe 3-in-1 Spray or Insecticidal Soap or Spinosad Soap, or conventional Cyonara, or Bonide Systemic Liquid or Granule

Read: Mealy Bugs are Here!

Caterpillars or their damage (chewed leaves).

Spray organically with Spinosad or Thuricide.

Read: Not All Caterpillars are Bad!

Mosquitoes

Use Mosquito Beater Liquid for quick kill or Mosquito Beater Granules to repel.

Read: Mosquito Solutions

Note: Please, Please, Please, don’t kill the bees!

They are one of the best sources we have to pollinate our fruits, vegetables, flowers, and shrubs.

Plant

Vegetable Seeds

Beets, carrot, garlic, lettuce, mustard, onion, parsley, radish, Swiss chard, spinach, turnips, herbs

Read: Best Timing for Popular Fall Veggies

Flower Seeds

Alyssum, bluebonnets, dianthus, delphinium, hollyhocks, larkspur, nasturtium, pansies, petunias, phlox, snapdragons, stock, sweet peas, and violas

Read: Success with Fall Flowers

Flower Transplants

All cool season annuals Alyssum, begonias, bluebonnets, calendulas, dianthus, flowering cabbage and kale, geraniums, lobelia, pansies, petunias, phlox, shasta daisy, snapdragons, stock, violas and dusty miller

Garden Guide: Annuals for Fall and Winter

Fall Bulbs

Fall bulbs like paper whites and amaryllis, will make a spectacular show this winter and spring, and now is the time to buy them. Paper whites need to be chilled for 4 to 6 weeks in your refrigerator then planted in pots or in the ground. They can make beautiful gifts for the holidays. Be sure to get a free instruction sheet on their planting and care.

Read: Amaryllis and Paperwhite Narcissus

Herbs

If you’re cooking for the holidays, you can still plant herbs for that “fresh from the garden” flavor. Even if you’re not cooking, they’re still fun to grow.

Read: Tips for Preserving Herbs

All container grown trees and shrubs.

Garden Guide: Planting Trees, Shrubs, and Groundcovers

Read: Burr Oak – an Awesome South Texas Tree

Indoor Plants

Add foliage plants to your indoors for a fresh look and to help keep air clean.
Clean indoor plants by removing dust with a damp cloth.
Check where plants are set so that heater vents will not blow on foliage.
Stop fertilizing until February to let your indoor plants rest.

Read: Plants, the Perfect Rx for Clean Air

Fertilize

Lawns

Fertilize your lawn with organic Medina Growin’ Green or Milorganite

Read: Top Five Tips for Beautiful Fall Lawn, Protect Your Lawn: Recent Take All Root Rot Sightings (TARR)

Roses

We recommend: Organic Maestro Rose Glo

Blooming Annuals and Perennials

Use organic Medina Growin’ Green, Hasta Gro, Maestro Rose Glo, or Plant Tone

Vegetables

We recommend organic Hasta Gro, Maestro Rose Glo, or Plant Tone

Read: How to Keep Your Vegetable Garden Healthy This Fall

All plants that are especially stressed, or recently transplanted

We recommend organic Hasta Gro or Plant Tone

Water

Water your newly planted vegetables and bedding plants regularly, but take care not to overwater with cooler nighttime temperatures.
Cut back on watering your established plants and lawn as temperatures cool down, since they use less water. If you are unsure when to water, use a moisture meter to take out the guesswork.

Prune

Woody Ornamentals

Your hardy woody ornamentals to shape, not severely, so as not to encourage new tender growth.

Read: To Prune or Not to Prune?

Fall Bloomers

Your fall blooming plants, like asters and mums, that have finished their bloom. Remove spent blooms from annuals, like petunias, snapdragons and dianthus to encourage more bloom.

Read: How to Trim Your Mums for a Second Bloom

Watch Out For

Read: What's Bugging You Now?

Watch: How to Collect a Grass Sample

Caterpillars

Caterpillars or their damage (chewed leaves). Spray with organic Thuricide, Dipel Dust, or Spinosad

Read: Oak Tree Caterpillars

Powdery Mildew on Crape Myrtles and Roses

Use organic Fungicide 5 or Neem Oil or conventional Fertilome Broad Spectrum or Fertilome Systemic Fungicide

Fleas and Ticks

Treat lawns with organic Spinosad, or conventional Cyonara

Mosquitoes

Use Mosquito Beater granules to repel and Mosquito Beater liquid to kill.

Note: Please, Please, don’t kill the bees!

They are one of the best sources we have to pollinate our fruits, vegetables, flowers and shrubs.

Read: Best for Bees