Summer Gardening, . Help. Advice. tips, hints, answers, a seasonal guide to summer gardening

July:

At this time of year lawns take heavy punishment, and a little time spent on maintenance will pay big dividends. If there is any moss in the lawn this can be removed with a lawn rake also pull out any perennial weeds. Then apply any of the proprietary brands of lawn fertiliser; carefully follow the directions on the box with regard to application. This will then give you a lawn to be proud of right into the autumn.

Rock plants (Alpines) and herbaceous perennials can be grown from seed at this time of year, most types are relativly easy to grow and seeds are cheap. You can also root cuttings, taken from established plants, but this is perhaps best left to the more experienced.

Soft fruit is much in vogue at this time of the year; unfortunately the birds seem to think that the fruit is there for their consumption. A readily available bird-scarer, which can be hung in surrounding trees, are the CD disks which daily pop through our letter box. These reflect the light and flash in the breeze. I even use one as a shaving mirror.

Early July is the time to plant out your late cauliflower, cabbage and brussel sprout plants. Prepare the ground well, remember that vegetable plants are gross feeders, so mix plenty of feed into the soil. Also remember to dust the stems with an anti cabbage root fly preparation soon after planting. Cabbage root fly lay their eggs in the stem, then the hatching maggots eat their way down to the roots and by eating the roots destroy the plant.

There are several brands of cabbage root fly killers on the market for gardeners, widely available at garden centres and other such retail outlets. See application help guide on the box.
Roses, remove all flowers that are finished, if you allow them to produce seed pods the plant will not be able to produce more flowers, instead using all its energy to produce seeds. Also remove any flower buds that are failing to open and rotting, these buds can harbour disease.

In the greenhouse, temperatures can reach great heights at this time of the year, so shading must be introduced. There are many types of shading materials available at retail outlets, and are easy to fit. You can also buy automatic devices to open the the glasshouse windows, thermostatically controlled fans are also available. These devices are of great value where the owner is away at work in the middle of the day.

JULY GARDENING QUESTIONS ANSWERED

Question.

I have recently moved to Oklahoma and bought a home with beautiful flowerbeds. One in particular has many different types of flowering plants, but also has a lot of grass and weeds.I have had 2 back surgeries making it hard to weed by hand. Is there any product out there that will kill the grass and weeds but not the flowering plants (roses, mums, lilies, marigolds etc.)? If not, want would be the easiest way to get the flowerbed cleaned up without harming the plants?

Answer.

You can make up a weak mixture of Glyphosate systemic weed killer and paint it on to the weeds with a paintbrush, still hard work I'm afraid. Glyphosate and certain other systemic weed killers are available in small hand sprays, if there is room too spray. Cover any chosen plants before spraying. Your best bet is to wait until fall, then get a landscaping man to dig up everything, destroy all the weeds and then replant your chosen plants.

Q. Potted maple.... ends of leaves drying out. Am I using the wrong fertilizer... What is a slow release Fungi for Maples?Barbara

A. This could be wind damage, greenfly damage, or mineral deficiency, feed with a fertiliser with added minerals and trace elements. Slow release fungi for maples. Many trees have a symbiotic relationship with certain fungi; truffles are a prime example, growing amongst tree roots. This will be what you are referring to.

Q. Drying Hydrangeas.How is this done? Thanks, Spec

A. To dry naturally, let the flowers dry on the plant until the end of summer. Cut the blooms, with as much stem length as desired, just before the first frost time. Remove leaves and place the stems in a vase or bucket without water. Keep in a dry place, damp can encourage mould. At one time it was believed that it was necessary to hang bunches of flowers upside down, but this idea is now defunct. You can dry the flowers in silica gel. More expensive and time-consuming, but gives perfect flowers. Obtainable at craft shops etc., instructions on the box.

Q. I planted an Annabelle hydrangea two years ago and it has never produced any flowers. The plant gets large and looks healthy, but does not bloom. Do you have any suggestions as to what I can do to make this plant bloom?

A. Feed with iron in tablet or liquid form, whatever is available in your area, there are fertilisers for hydrangea containing iron. Hydrangeas need iron too produce the flower. Also feed with Epsom salts (magnesium sulphate) this will release trace elements in the soil needed by the plant.

Q. When is the best time to transplant Liatris? I live in south central Kansas.

A. Wait until the plant has died down for winter, and then move any time that the soil is frost-free.

Q. I have some lythrium (loosestrife?) plants, which I love. They have a problem with an insect that makes tiny wholes in the leaves (every year) and I have put out bait, dust, sprayed etc. I am lucky if I get a few blooms that aren't eaten. Thank you, Jo Ann

A. This is most likely flea beetle a shiny insect ranging from very dark green to orange in colour and fast moving. There are treatments available at garden outlets.

Q. I am a new gardener how do you get rid of weeds from your flowerbed. I pull them and they always come back within a week, HELP PLEASE!!

A. You need a systemic weed killer; widely available, systemic weed killers are absorbed by the plant and kill the roots. Be careful not to spray your chosen plants, read the instructions on the box.

Q. I have a yellow jasmine vine that is not blooming. Is it because it may not be getting enough sun?

A. Yellow jasmine likes the early morning sun and should be planted on a South- Easterly aspect.

Q. We have just started building an area of garden that is going to belong to our 2year 4month little boy. The only thing is we have found a tree named after Peter Pan the Disney character, and we were wondering if there are any more trees, flowers etc named after any more Walt Disney characters. Please could you possibly help as this would make my son very happy knowing as he grows older he will have a garden that he knows every name of every tree, flower etc in his little area. Please, please help, Chris

A. I am afraid that I cannot recall any plants named after Disney characters. In the case of the tree you mention the name Peter Pan is linked to the Great Ormond Street Children's Hospital charity and has nothing to do with Walt Disney.

Q. We purchased a home two years ago. It has an evergreen magnolia in the front yard that is about three years old. The tree faces north, but with lots of sun. It has not bloomed at all for us, but continues to produce more leaves, while other leaves turn copper and drop off. Is there something we can do to encourage blooms? Thank you, Sandra

A. It is recommended that evergreen magnolia be always planted against a wall to give some winter protection for the flower buds, which can be damaged by frost.

Q. I live in Pennsylvania and I planted two hydrangeas about 6 weeks ago. At that time we had a lot of rain and the plants were doing well. We just came back from being away for 10 days when it was hot, and now the plants look like they are going to die.I moved them to an area that is not directly in the sun. However, I do not know what else to do. The bottom portion of the stems is dying if not already dead, and the leaves and flowers are now dying off. I originally tried using miracle grow and then was told that the plants do not flower well if you use it.I do not know what else to do to try and save these gorgeous plants. They are well watered but will not come back to life. Please help. Jeanine.

A. Hydrangeas need to grow fine roots near to the surface, to encourage these roots you must cover the area around the plants with a mulch of garden compost, wood chipping's, lawn cuttings or anything similar. The idea to keep the roots damp.Cut off the dead flowers and mix them in with the mulch, there are vital chemicals in the flower heads that the plant needs for flower production.Feed the plant with a fertiliser containing iron, hydrangea needs iron. You can also buy an iron additive especially for hydrangea. If they manage to survive the plants should shoot out new shoots in the leaf joints.

Q. Is it safe to use mothballs in my vegetable garden to prevent rabbits from eating my plants? I was told to do this in my flowerbeds as well. Anne Marie

A. If your plants are well established mothballs should do little harm. There are many branded products on the market to deter rabbits if the mothballs don't work.

Q. I have a question. In the morning I find round piles of a brownish substance, which is dry and powdery about 3 inches in diameter and piles of a yellow substance, which is wet and gooey about 2 inches in diameter. Could you please tell me what these are and how to get rid
of what is putting them there?

A. This sounds like the toadstools of certain fungi, which live on rotting wood deep in the soil. This often happens where the houses are of fairly recent build and tree roots have been buried by the builder or landscaping man. Not really a problem, just the time of year.

Q. I'm trying to grow roses and flowering plants (namely Jacob's Ladder and bleeding hearts) for the first time. They were all doing really well until just recently. I am finding yellow leaves underneath on the Jacob's ladder and the ferns on the bleeding heart plants are starting to turn. Today I found yellow leaves on one rose plant. What does the yellow leaves indicate? I water the plants once a day unless it rains. I've given the appropriate food and planting locations.Thank you for your help.

A. You could be over watering, if you water too much the plant does not grow any new roots into the surrounding area and the plants are totally dependant on you instead of becoming self sufficient. Apply a feed of Epsom salts (magnesium sulphate) good for the green in the leaves.

Q. I have something wrong with my sunflowers this year. I've never seen it before and hoping someone can help. At the base of the flower heads, there has come to be a white, creamy substance. It looks almost like someone has taken a bottle of lotion and squirted them. It's gooey and drips, is very thick. Can anyone help? Thanks a lot, Desiree.

A. This could be Sclerotinaor white mould, a common disease of sunflowers that causes rot in the stalk and head. Try spraying with a systemic anti fungi spray to try and limit the damage. Disease spores can live for many years in the soil. Moving to another area of your garden next year, is advised.

Q. Hi. I transplanted a climbing hydrangea in the early spring, it seemed to flourish quite well at first but now the leaves are turning brown and rusty and there is no new growth. It is a young plant only 2 feet high, it faces south so gets the mid morning sun. Also a chestnut tree, approx. 18 yrs. old and approx. 30ft. high seems to have the same colour on the edges of the leaves, kind of rusty brown. We had a very wet spring but recently dry, hot and humid so I have watered the hydrangea each evening after the sun has gone down. Any idea what the problem is? I'd appreciate any suggestions. Thanks.

A. This sounds like botrytis mould or mildew; both thrive in wet seasons and damage the edges of the leaf. Spray with a systemic fungicide, a systemic spray is absorbed by the plant and works from within.

Q. Do rocks migrate? It seems the good topsoil we put in to redo our beds now has lots of small rocks over the surface. I terminated the landscape company from last year partially because when I was planting I found fist size rocks in the topsoil. Was I unfair about the larger rocks? Do small animals bring the surface rocks late at night? I didn't finish the front planting as early as I expected, therefore the mulch hasn't been put down (now due to the recent wet weather?) so I have a continuing curiosity about where the pebbles and small
rocks originate.

A. Moles, rabbits and all the burrowing rodents all push soil upwards when burrowing, including small rocks from lower down than your top soil level. The larger the burrowing animal the larger the rocks from below. All soil is part organic matter and part ground up rocks and these small rocks will split up in time with the action of frost and hot sun.

Q. Hello, hope you can help,We have a bay hedge around part of the perimeter of our front lawn. A white powdery substance has appeared on many of the leaves this summer. Is this a disease of some kind? Is there anything we can apply to the hedge to rectify this? Thank you.

A. This is most probably mildew or botrytis, spray with a systemic fungicide. A systemic fungicide is absorbed by the plant and works from within.

Q. I believe I have a pest problem with pinch bugs; I have not used any type of pesticides on any of my flowers. Some sort of bugs is munching away on all my outdoors flowers. My son suggested that I go out at night time with a flashlight and look at all the flowers to see what's eating them and sure enough I did this tonight and saw pinch bugs on my plants also ants. Some of my plants, Hostas, petunias, roses; mum leaves have little holes in them too. Thanks for any suggestions you can offer. Vickie, Round Lake Beach, Ill.

A. Spray your pinch bugs with a systemic insecticide, a systemic insecticide is absorbed by the plant and works from within. The small holes in your plants are caused by tiny white snails, which live in the soil surface during the day. Treat with slug/snail pellets.

If you came straight to this page please visit the Home Page to learn a little more about this gardening web site.