Radio Show Recap
This Week in the Lawn & Garden
- Managing Mums | Cut back by 50% any perennialized mums and fall sedums. The result will be denser, fuller plants with more flowers during the desired blooming time of early September. WATCH Growing Mums
- Eliminating Japanese Beetles | The scouts have emerged from lawn soil, and are actively being drawn to roses, green beans, and other preferred foliage & flowering plants. Drown them in soapy water, squish them, spray them with Eight®, and/or place beetle traps at the back of your yard. You can also apply Scotts® GrubEx® to the lawn to stop the next grub-to-beetle life cycle. READ Battling the Beetles
- Feeding the Lawn | If you haven’t done so yet, July is the time to apply Step® 3 lawn food. Remember to water it in, or apply it just before a good rainfall. The organic alternative to Step 3 is Espoma® Summer Revitalizer. WATCH July Lawn Care
- Maintaining Tomatoes | Cage your plants, if you have not already. Remove the bottom leaves of your tomato plants, and remove the suckers growing in the pit between main stems and branches. This will help the plants maintain energy for tomato production while increasing air circulation. Sprinkle a handful of Lightning Lime™ around the base to add calcium, which prevents blossom end rot. WATCH Stopping End Rot
- Treating Mildew | Hot, humid weather has brought on powdery mildew, which is now visibly affecting susceptible veggies like cucumbers, squash, pumpkins, and melons, plus the foliage of peonies, bee balm, clematis, and phlox. Treat them with Copper Fungicide routinely to address or stay a step ahead of it. WATCH Treating Mildew
- Preventing Mosquitoes | Mosquitoes are pretty prevalent right now, breeding rapidly in the favorable conditions. Dump standing water from saucers, and clean & replace birdbath water weekly to keep it fresh. Kill larvae in a safe, non-toxic way by placing Mosquito Beater® Water Soluble Pouches in birdbaths, fountains & ponds. Use the granular or spray versions to repel mosquitoes around the patio 2-3 weeks at a time. SHOP Mosquito Beater
- Looking for Lawn Disease | The onset of summer heat and humidity is starting to cause lawn disease in certain areas. If you notice discoloring, brown spots, or dry areas, prevent or cure the fungal issue with Scotts® DiseaseEx™ granules or Bonide® Infuse™spray. Mark the calendar for next year, and start treating before the expected onset (because preventing is easier than curing). SHOP Disease Controls
- Trimming Annuals | Right after the 4th of July is a good time to trim annuals & hanging baskets that have gotten leggy, giving them a one-third “haircut” that will keep them fresh, vegetative, and floriferous through the hot summer months and well into fall. Feed them with Osmocote®, and they’ll be back in bloom fast. WATCH Trimming Annuals
- Pruning Garlic Scapes | It’s okay to cut the ‘scapes’ growing at the top of your garlic plants right now, but wait until the overall plant foliage has turned yellow and fallen over to harvest the bulbs below ground. Dig the plants but do not wash them. Place them where they can sit on paper and air dry for 2 weeks (garage is fine). Then cut the stalks to about 1 foot above the bulb. Tie & hang your garlic where it’s cool, dark, and dry for long-term storage and use.