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Summer Gardening The rush of spring planting is over, kids are out of school and temperatures are beginning to soar. Work early in the day to avoid the heat. Look over this checklist to see what chores need to be done in your yard and garden.
June Checklist
Check plants for insects and diseases. Destroy badly infested plants. Spidermites can be especially troublesome at this time. Select a chemical or organiccontrol, or use insecticidal soap.
Supplemental irrigation is essential for many ornamental plants suchas coleus, caladium, geranium, dahlia, azalea, and camellia during thehot, dry summer days ahead. Water lawn and garden thoroughly, butnot too frequently. During the summer, soil moisture becomes extremely important andessential for good plant production. A good mulch will retain valuablemoisture needed for plant growth, and improve overall gardeningsuccess. Mulches are usually applied 2 to 6 inches deep, depending on the material used.
There is still time to plant some of the colorful, heat-tolerant summerannuals. Direct-seed zinnias and portulaca, and purchase plants ofperiwinkle, salvia, marigold, and purslane. Be sure to water transplantsas needed until roots become established.
Removing faded flowers from plants before they set seed will keepthem growing and producing flowers. A light application of fertilizerevery 4 to 6 weeks will also be helpful.
Houseplants can be moved out of doors this month. Sink the pots in acool, shaded garden bed to prevent them from drying out so quickly.Water pots, container plants, and hanging baskets often.
Now is the time to plan for next spring. Consider digging and dividing anycrowded spring bulbs. Once the bulbs have matured and the foliage has turnedbrown, it is time to spade them up and thin out the stand. Crowded bulbsproduce fewer and smaller blooms. They usually need thinning every 3 to 4 years.
June is the time to select daylily varieties as they reach their peak of bloom.
Fertilize roses every 4 to 6 weeks. Apply a high-nitrogen fertilizerimmediately after a flush of bloom.
Continue to spray susceptible roses with a black-spot control such aFunginex every 7 to 10 days.
Re-blooming salvias, such as Salvia greggii and S. Farinacea, shouldbe pruned back periodically during the summer. To make the jobeasier, use hedging shears, and remove only the spent flowers and afew inches of stem below.
Analyze your landscape this summer. Make notes of plants that need replacement, overgrown plants that need to be removed, better arrangements for your landscape, and activity areas that your family needs. These are good projects for next winter. |
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Noon Yardening Event Cary Sims, Extension Agent, is hosting Noon Yardening Events on the second Thursday each month at the Farmer's Market. Bring your lunch, hear a yardening talk, ask questions and be back to work on time. What is Yardening? Its folks working in their yard to make it look attractive, but gardening is not their hobby. Speakers include Master Gardeners and Cary Sims. Talks will be held in Extension Office during cold or rainy weather and at the Farmer's Market on pleasant days. Visit our upcoming events page for dates, topics and speakers. Call 632.8239 for more information. |
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Earthkind Rose Trials
Angelina Master Gardeners planted Earthkind Roses in March 2007 to begin a four year trial of five varieties. This is part of a nationwide trial of these roses, and the first of its kind in Angelina County. Earthkind Roses are grown without the use of chemical fertilizers or pesticides.
Varieties included in the test are: Bright Melody, Dorcus, Do-se-do, Malaguena, and Care Free Beauty. For more information on Earthkind Roses visit http://earthkindroses.tamu.edu To read more about our rose trials (continue) |
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February 05, 2010 Two long-established roses earn Earth-Kind distinction Judges say they are "beautiful roses for busy people" By: Mike Jackson, 972-952-9232Contact(s): Steve George, 972-952-9217, s-george3@tamu.edu
DALLAS They embody traits few others share beauty, toughness and easy maintenance and that has earned them the highest distinction a rose can achieve, said Dr. Steve George, a Texas AgriLife Extension Service horticulturist in Dallas. Cecile Brunner and Reve dOr were recently named Earth-Kind Roses by a team of horticulturists with AgriLife Extension. Only 21 roses hold the title. Reve dOr, originally released in 1869, earned an additional honor by being named 2010 Earth-Kind Rose of the Year, George said. "Both roses are simply gorgeous," he said. Cecile Brunner, introduced in 1881, is light pink and the bush grows to about 4 feet by 3 feet, George said. Adapted throughout Texas, its a repeat-bloomer, fragrant and tolerates some light-dappled shade in the afternoon. It is also known as the "Sweetheart Rose." Reve dOr (pronounced rehv dohr) is medium-yellow, fragrant, nearly thornless and also a repeat-bloomer. Adapted to all of Texas except the upper Panhandle, the bush is a vigorous climber that will grow 10 feet to 18 feet tall and about 8 feet wide, he said. Its name is French for "dream of gold." "Reve dOr is the healthiest yellow rose that we have ever tested," he said. There is more to these roses than good looks, George said. Earth-Kind Roses are robust and thrive in tough conditions. Grown and evaluated over eight years on average, the roses are not fertilized or pruned when tested. They are not treated with pesticides, and are watered far less than other roses. They also are grown on their own roots, as opposed to those grafted onto other plants. The results are roses that are easy to grow and maintain, he said. To be Earth-Kind, a rose must have received the designation from AgriLife Extension, an agency of the Texas A&M System. Earth-Kind is a registered trade mark of AgriLife Extension. "These winners of the prestigious Earth-Kind designation are long-lived, tolerant of most any soil and are so environmentally responsible that almost never will you need to apply harsh pesticides or even commercial fertilizer," George said. "These are truly roses with which anybody can be successful." A list and descriptions of all Earth-Kind Roses can be found at http://earthkindroses.tamu.edu . George and the team of Earth-Kind rose evaluators offer growing tips: - The roses should be planted where they receive at least eight hours of direct sunlight daily. - Their location should allow for good airflow over the leaves. - They should be planted in well-aerated soils. (Visit the Earth-Kind Rose Web site for details on how to manage specific soils.) - They need the year-round protection of a 3-inch layer of organic mulch over their root systems.
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Stumpery
The Stumpery at the Angelina Farmers' Market is a showplace for plants that thrive in the shade of hardwood and pine trees. Visitors can enjoy the beauty of shade loving ferns and shrubs and take away ideas for their own landscapes. Master Gardeners volunteer hours of work at the Stumpery every week. To learn more about the Stumpery, click here. |
