Watering, pruning even more important in summer

SHIRLEY BRENON

JULY 3, 2010
(mydesert.com)-The heat and dryness this month could mean that you are on vacation from most planting chores. Time to enjoy the bounty of summer, but stay on top of your watering chores and keep a watch on your plants for any signs of trouble.

 Irrigation — Always check your bubblers and water lines for blockages, particularly if you will be away for any extended period of time. If you didn't add more watering time to your irrigation clock in June then do it now, as plants will need more moisture this month. Shade trees will benefit from a slow, deep soaking once a month, while citrus should be soaked once a week. In addition, get out your water wand and give your roses and other plants a bath every two weeks. This is very important, as keeping the foliage clean will keep spider mites at bay. Do it in the morning, so foliage can dry off during the day. While you have the wand out, examine the underside of hibiscus and plumeria leaves for waxy white spirals, where whiteflies deposit their eggs. Wash them off with jets of water. Also pick off and discard leaves that have long, hair-like filaments of wax, which the whiteflies excrete as they feed on leaves.

Hopefully, your native plants, cactus, agave and other low-water specimens are on different irrigation lines than your thirsty plants, as too much water may encourage crown or root rot.

Solarize problem beds — If you have a garden bed where plants continue to die or do very poorly, it is possible that you have bacteria, fungus or nematodes in the soil. This is the perfect time to use our sun power to destroy problems in these troubling beds. To accomplish this you need to level the area, thoroughly moisten the soil and then cover it tightly with a thick, transparent plastic tarp, weighted down around the edges. Leave the tarp in place for four to six weeks before removing it and replanting the area.

Keep annuals going — As the summer wears on, the heat may cause some of the plants in your annual beds or patio pots to fade or look stressed. Of course, adequate water helps but also you can encourage new growth if you regularly spend time deadheading (removing spent flowers).

If a plant prematurely dies and leaves an empty space in the garden, there are several other heat-loving plants that can fill in the space. Some suggestions include dwarf cosmos, gaillardia, salvia farinacea and S. splendens, verbena, vinca, and zinnias. If you are looking for something more permanent, plant California fuchsia (zauschneria), cuphea, gaura, lantana or lion's tail (Leonatia leonurus).

Remember to give the new plants some extra water while they are getting established.