Planting:

• Plant tropicals in coastal zones

• Choose crape myrtles

• Pick out and purchase cassias and flame eucalyptus

• Plant papayas, bananas, and palms

• Consider planting a lawn by installing Sod. Natural grass has many benefits such as it cools the Earth, reduces global warming & produces oxygen. We now carry Drought Tolerant Grasses from Am Sod

• When planting in containers, hanging baskets or raised beds use Sunshine Pro Premium Potting Soil

• Fertilize lawns with Best 16-6-8 or Best Super Turf 25-5-5.  For a general purpose fertilizer use Best Triple Pro 15-15-15 for trees and shrubs, ground covers, citrus and evergreens. Feed warm-season lawns. Feed cool-season lawns only if they show signs of yellowing.

• Fertilize acid-loving plants—azaleas, camellias and gardenias with Dr. Earth Rhododendron Azalea and Camellia Fertilizer

• Mulch and amend soil using Kellogg’s Gromulch for better soil condition and water retention.  Also helps to control weeds! Use at least 4” of mulch. 

• Ants
  
  Grants Ant Stakes
  AntPro Bait & Station
  Terro Ant Baits

• Lawn pests
  
  Spectracide Triazicide Once & Done
  Sevin Insect Killer Granules
  Bayer Complete Insect Killer Granules or Bayer Multi Insect Killer Granules
  
  

• Lawn Fungus
  
  Bayer Fungus Control for Lawns
  
  

• Mosquitoes
  
  Mosquito Dunks

• Yellow Jackets
  
  Rescue Yellow Jacket Trap
  Victor Yellow Jacket Trap
  
  

• Budworms
  
  Safer Caterpillar Killer
  Greenlight Spinosad
  

• Squirrels
  
  Wilco Squirrel Bait and Bait Station
  Squirrelinator Trap
  

• Whiteflies
  
  Bayer Advanced Tree & Shrub Insect Control

• Rose Pests
  
  Bayer Rose & Flower Care
  
  

• Fireblight
  
  Remove disfigured branches and twigs

• Sun Protection—wear sun glasses, hats and sunblock.  Work in early morning or late afternoon to avoid the heat of the day.  Consider using shade cloth for protection against intense sun for sensitive plants.

• Going on vacation?  Check timers and watering systems.  Replace hoses if needed.

• Cut back your petunias in mid-August to keep them flowering

• Cut off the suckers from deciduous fruit trees

• Give fuchsias a light pruning. Prune and train wisteria. Prune fruit trees. Be sure to attend on our our Fruit Tree Pruning Workshops with Richard Wright.

• Remove suckers from roses. Boss Atlas Fit Gloves & Garden Ladies FLEXI Grip Gloves are on sale this month!

• Clean off the stems from agapanthus and daylilies that have already bloomed

• Remove only dead and dying foliage from date palms

• Pull out dead crabgrass if you have previously treated it with weed killer

• Feed fuchsias, tuberous begonias, water lilies, cymbidiums, ferns and tropicals. Feed fortnight lilies lightly

• Fertilize biennials started from seed in July with fish emulsion at weekly intervals

• Do not fertilize deciduous fruit trees

• Fertilize roses with Dr Earth Rose & Flower food or Bayer Advanced Rose & Flower Care

• Water gardens –Continue to monitor irrigation systems. Fix clogs and broken sprinklers. Adjust spray heads. Apply a fresh layer of organic mulch to conserve moisture (but not more than three to four inches total). Water more frequently during extreme heat or periods of drought. Be sure to water deeply. Follow local watering guidelines available from water department or cooperative extension office.
  
  Water Use Restrictions
• Be sure to keep container plants and garden beds watered well.
• Water warm-season lawns deeply at least once a week in most zones.
• Water cool-season lawns more shallowly and frequently
• Study your irrigation system, check for malfunctioning heads.
• On drip irrigation systems, flush filters and headers

• Attract a variety of Finches to your yard. Kaytee Super Finch Sock and Nyjer Seed are on sale this month.

• Make sure to control weeds by mulching, cultivating, and hand pulling. In non-selective areas use Roundup ProMax. Amaze Grass & Weed Preventer can be used in ornamental bulbs, ground covers, trees, shrubs & established flower beds. Kill weedy grasses without injuring desirable plants with Monterey Grass Getter and Herbicide Helper.