 Trees
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- Spring flowering trees like Redbud and Mountain Laurel can be pruned
now that they are done blooming.
- Water trees only when needed. First year transplants may need watering
once a week at a rate of two gallons per inch diameter of the trunk at chest height.
- Established trees will rarely need watering. Trees adapted for our area
manage well without water for up to two months. To water an established
tree, spread a soaker hose around the outermost area where branches grow.
(see diagram below) This is the "drip line." Leave the soaker hose on a slow
seeping (about a quarter turn on the hose bib) for several hours. Don't
forget to turn it off.
- Leaf-eating insects often infest trees in early summer. Native and adapted trees
can survive minor insect attacks without harm. Excessive caterpillars can be
controlled using organic products such as Bacillus threngiensis (Bt) or spinosad.
- Frequent irrigation of turf or beds beneath tree canopies may make leaf
diseases worse. Be sure to irrigate at proper times.
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 Grasses
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- Frequent irrigation of turf or beds beneath tree canopies may make leaf
diseases worse. Be sure to irrigate at proper times.
- Continue to mow your lawn regularly. Mow St. Augustine at 3 inches, Zoysia
at 2 inches, Bermuda at 1.5 inches or less and Buffalo at 4 inches or higher.
- Zoysia, Buffalo and Bermuda Grass can be allowed to go dormant in the summer without permanent damage.
They will green up when the rain returns.
- Apply a labeled insecticide for grubs and/or chinch bugs in June if you had
diagnosed damage from them last
year or if you see a large number of the
insects. A “large number” of insects
means at least three grubs per square
foot. Just a few insects should be
ignored. If you are unsure of what is
causing your lawn to look bad, call the
Bexar County Cooperative Extension
Office at 210-467-6575 to discuss the
problem and get a diagnosis.
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 Herbs
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Ocimum basilicum - Thai Basil
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- Prune herbs often to keep them full
and compact. The essential oils in
herbs are highest in the morning, so
prune in the morning for the best
flavor or aroma. Keep a calendar of
blooming dates. Plan to prune after
blooming.
- Water with drip irrigation to prevent
wilting and excessive water evaporation.
- Once they bloom, many culinary herbs
are finished for the season. Cutting off
buds will extend use.
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 Perennials
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- Insect attacks: Native and welladapted
plants should survive pest
attacks. Consider organic solutions
for severe infections. See the Garden
Problem Solver section
for treatment options.
- Remove spent flowers and seed pods
to prolong blooms or for repeated
blooming. Large perennials, such as
salvias, can be cut back by a third and
will rebloom later in the summer.
- If plants show signs of yellow leaves,
consider a summer application of
slow-release or organic fertilizer
around affected plants.
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 Roses
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Fairy Rose
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- Old-fashioned roses will survive
without supplemental irrigation, but
they bloom best if they receive one
deep watering every two weeks when
we do not receive rain.
- Many roses decline noticeably in the
summer and perk up again when
temperatures cool in the autumn.
- Three inches of mulch applied over
the root system helps conserve water
and maintain the plant.
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 Annuals
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Any lingering cool-season annuals in your
garden should be removed from the garden.
Although they may be alive, they are mostly
acting as a breeding ground for garden
pests. Plant heat-loving summer
annuals in good soil with full sun and
they will provide color all summer. Drip
irrigation in annual beds is an efficient
way to water, and helps prevent loss of
annual plants from phytopthora fungus.
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Cosmos
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Zinnia
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Periwinkle Vinca
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|
 Wildscape
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- A source of water is an important
element in your wildscape. Keep your
bird bath or bowl clean and filled.
Consider adding "mosquito dunks"
which contain an organic Bt solution
that will keep mosquitoes from breeding
in the water. The Bt solution will
not harm visiting birds.
- Your wildscape should require about a
quarter as much water as you would
use on turfgrass. In fact, once your
wildscape plants are over a year old
you have the option of doing no
supplemental watering.
- To encourage blooming plants to
maintain blooms, water once per
month in the absence of rain.
|
 Water
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- If you have a drip irrigation system,
check it often for breaks or for drip
lines that pop off the water connection.
As soils dry drip lines move and lines
are pulled and can be broken or pop
off the water connections.
- Check your automatic sprinkler
system for broken or mis-aligned spray
heads and dirty spray head filters.
- Watch for swampy areas or very green
areas where underground leaks may
have developed in the irrigation system.
- Keep your automatic sprinkler system
in the "OFF" or "MANUAL" setting to
conserve water.
- Do not follow the same watering
schedule for bedding areas as for your
turf. To do so can cost you a lot in
wasted water. You can cut back watering by half to save
time and money if you are willing to
let the grass go dormant in the hottest
part of the summer.
- Xeriscape plants can survive the
summer without irrigation. They will
bloom best if they get a deep watering
with a soaker hose once each month.
- Don't use a lot of water trying to bring
back your spring blooming plants to
their early season glory. Instead, enjoy
your heat-loving summer seasonal
stars that need almost no water to
keep blooming!
|
 Pruning
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Pant Type
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Pruning Directions
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Fall blooming flowers
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Fall blooming flowers
(Maximillian, Sunflowers,
Mums and Asters)
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Roses
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Trim back roses that are in summer wilt so they will look good
in the fall.
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Trees
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Summer is a good time to prune oaks to avoid infection from
oak wilt. It is still a good idea to paint any cut more than one
inch diameter.
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Perennials
(Salvia Greggi,
Mexican Oregano and
Salvias)
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After peak bloom ends, shear off the top 1/3 of summer blooming
perennials to encourage a re-bloom. It is okay to cut off a
few flowers in the process.
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Palms
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Remove brown palm fronds if desired.
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