By Nancy Bauer
Keep your turf healthy
Turf areas can become weedy unless you are diligent about good watering, and mowing. If you have a sprinkler system, make sure the heads are properly operating and are providing adequate coverage. Sometimes heads can get out of alignment, become clogged or even possibly be broken. Water deeply and infrequently which will stimulate root growth. Check turf for signs of dryness especially on south or west facing slopes and increase watering in these areas.
Be sure to keep lawn mower blades sharp. Dull blades rip and bruise grass tips and cause them to turn brown. This also opens the grass blade tips for turf disease infection. Mow the lawn no less than 2-21/2’ in height, never cutting more than one-third of the growth.
Broadleaf Weed Control
The best control is to maintain healthy turf as mentioned above, but if weeds appear, treat only individual plants or weed infested spots with chemicals. Liquid spot treatments generally are more effective than ‘weed and feed’ type applications.
Use herbicides when temperatures are between 65 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit. Do not apply when temperatures are expected to rise above 85 degrees within 48 hours of application. To minimize the danger of herbicide drift, spray weeds during a calm part of the day when there’s little or no wind. Don’t apply when rain is expected within 24 hours of application, and avoid watering for 24 hours after application.
Are your plants being bugged?
- Try a natural solution: If your plants are crawling with aphids, pick up a batch of ladybugs from your local gardening store. Ladybugs feast on these garden pests and do not harm your plants in any way, unlike their prey.
- Are ants suddenly appearing? Do a little scouting and find out where their nest is. Sprinkle red chili pepper, paprika, or dries peppermint leaves around the area.
- Wasps and bees can be trapped in specially made hanging jars.
- To eliminate snails and slugs, which feast on foliage, place shallow dishes of beer on the ground.
- For the rest of your pests, visit any garden center and look for organic products for insect and disease solutions to help remedy any buggy situation!
July Gardening Tips for Flowers, Ground Covers, Perennials, and Ornamental Grasses
- Continue to deadhead and weed regularly.
- Monitor all your plants for early signs of disease or pest infestation.
- Divide bearded irises.