Monday, June 25, 2012

Garden Tasks for Mid- to late Summer (July - August)


Preparations
  • Prepare the soil for anew lawn or border.
  • Plant early-spring-flowering bulbs - like snowdrops, crocuses, and daffodils - in late summer.
  • Take semiripe cuttings off shrubs.
Pruning
  • Deadhead flowering plants to promote new blooms.
  • Cut back herbaceous plants after flowering for a second burst of foliage and flowers.
  • Prune rambling roses as soon as they have flowered.
  • Prune established climbers and deciduous shrubs that flower on the previous year's growth.
  • Trim evergreen and conifer hedges in late summer.
Other Tasks
  • In dry spells, continue to water new plants and those still establishing themselves, as well as new lawns. Water in the early morning and evening rather than in the heat of the day.
  • Water and fertilize hanging baskets and containers regularly.
  • Fertilize and mulch roses.
  • Continue to weed regularly.
  • Mow lawns regularly - perhaps as often as once a week or more - but set the blades higher during dry, hot spells.


This list was found in Learn to Garden: A Practical Introduction to Gardening.  I did modify the list a little.   

Thursday, June 21, 2012

Moving

Sorry for not keeping this up as well as I should.  I am in the process of getting things situated to move to california.  I also have a new job.  It's been hectic lately.