Plant

Continue planting container-grown plants.

Sow biennials (foxglove, pansies, sweet William) in flats for flowering next year.

 

Prune

And thin major shade trees to increase light for thin lawns, semi shade-loving plants.

Deciduous and evergreen hedges.

Climbing and rambling roses (after bloom)

 

Fertilize

Heavily flowering evergreens (azaleas, rhododendrons) with 5-10-5 for acid-loving plant (after bloom). Apply iron chelate as a foliar spray if necessary.

Roses (monthly)

Chrysanthemums with water soluble fertilizer or manure tea (every 2 – 3 weeks until buds form).

Annuals, container plants, house plants (monthly).

 

Watch for

Black spot, box elder bug, chinch bug, fungus, iris borer, Japanese beetle, lace bug, mites, powdery mildew, webworm.

 

Lawn care

Do not scalp lawn; raise mower in hottest weather. Water thoroughly once a week, to equal 1” if adequate rain is lacking. If lawn is sparse, prune and thin major shade trees to allow more sunlight to reach lawn, or this fall reseed with a shade tolerant variety.

 

Rose care

Continue summer program.

 

Propagation

Take softwood cuttings of shrubs, vines, ground covers, houseplants to increase stock.

 

Chores

Order now for fall planting: bulbs, roses, perennials (including daylilies, iris, peonies), ornamental grasses, shrubs, trees, berry bushes, fruit trees.

Dig and divide overcrowded perennials, including iris and poppies.

Deadhead annuals and perennials; cut back rampant ones. Remove fallen leaves and twigs that may harbor pests.

Pinch back chrysanthemums and asters for the last time.

Stake floppy perennials.

Lightly cultivate soil in beds to reduce compaction and weeds.

Continue to weed and water.

Remulch beds if necessary – mulch deteriorates rapidly in hot weather.

Continue to add all healthy garden clippings to compost pile and keep moist to hasten decomposition.

Begin cutting flowers and herbs for drying.

Spray or paint poison ivy with systematic broadleaf herbicide.

 

In the vegetable garden

Plant: warm- and cool season vegetables. Replant areas vacated by spent crops with early maturing varieties for a fall crop.

Continue to pull and replace spent crops; stake, prune, and mulch tomatoes; deadhead basil; propagate herbs from cuttings taken from side shoots that have not blossomed.

Watch for: insects (see May), mites, tomato hookworm, vine borers, worms.

Cut to the ground all raspberry canes that have finished fruiting.

Fertilize: vegetables with foliar spray or side-dress with granular 5-10-5; asparagus with 5-10-5 and mulch (after last harvest); rhubarb with 5-10-5 or aged manure.