Radio Show Recap
This Week in Your Lawn & Garden
- Raising the Mower | Raise your mower deck to 3 inches and maintain that all summer long. The top of the grass will be long enough to help shade out weeds, help maintain moisture, and support deep root development.
- Pruning Spring Bloomers | June is the time to hard prune for size & shape any spring-flowering shrubs that have completed their bloom cycles: Azalea, Rhododendron, Purple Plum Bush, Forsythia, Lilac, Variegated Dogwood, and the old-fashioned, classic, larger varieties of Butterfly Bush (not modern dwarf hybrid series).
- Managing Mums | Cut back by half any fall mums re-growing from last year, then feed them with Osmocote®. Repeat the process right after the 4th of July. You’ll have much fuller, sturdier plants and plenty for flowers, plus they’ll bloom at the right time in fall. SHOP Osmocote®
- Scouting for Bagworms | Bagworms are active and setting their bags for next year on Arborvitaes, which will destroy the plants. Look for their little bell-shaped cocoons hanging from Arborvitae branches. Remove any you find, seal them in a bag, and throw them away. They’re much prevalent & visible in the last 10 years. Spray the plants now with Bonide® Eight®, then repeat in two weeks. SHOP Eight®
- Supporting Tomatoes & Peppers | It’s a good idea to apply a handful of Lightning Lime™ on top of the soil at the base of tomatoes & peppers now, and water it in. Repeat in July. You can also spray Rot-Stop® on the leaves. Both provide a quick boost of Calcium to prevent blossom end rot. Pair with consistent watering practices, and install cage/stake supports for best results. WATCH Avoiding End Rot
- Controlling Mosquitoes | Change water weekly in birdbaths, saucers, buckets, and watering cans to help reduce mosquitoes around the home. Tip out water that accumulates in plant saucers. Use repellents such as Mosquito Beater® pouches (dunks) to repel for up to three weeks at a time. SHOP Mosquito Beater®
- Harvesting Herbs | Keep cutting your herbs to push energy back into the plant and promote new growth. Feed them with Garden-tone® every 6 weeks, or a liquid fertilizer (per package instructions). To dry harvested herbs, sandwich your clippings between 2 paper towels, microwave them for 2 minutes, and store them in lidded jar. WATCH Harvesting Herbs
- Treating Powdery Mildew | The upcoming heat, humidity, and rain will encourage powdery mildew to develop on certain veggies and flowers. Reduce fungal issues by spraying Copper Fungicide on susceptible plants after rain every 5-10 days (follow package instructions). Be sure to stake plants and support air circulation to keep disease issues down. SHOP Copper Fungicide