garden checklist

JULY 2004

Perennial Color

Purple coneflowers (Echinacea purpurea) bloom throughout the summer and are great perennials for sunny flowerbeds. Favorites include 'Ruby Star,' 'Magnus,' and 'Bravado.' 'Kirn's Knee High' (pink) is a low-growing selection good for containers or the front of the border. If purple isn't your passion, try Orange Meadowbrite' (tangerine), 'White Swan' (white), or yellow coneflower (E. paradoxa). They all prefer full sun, good drainage, and soil with some organic matter. When adding them to your garden this time of year, plant them at the same depth as they were in the containers, and water well. Once established, these flowers are drought-tolerant, happy perennials.

* Lawns-Raise the height of your mower for the summer. When it's hot, cutting your grass too short can stress the lawn. Elevate your mower to 2 ½ to 3 inches for St. Augustine, 1 ½ to 2 inches for centipede, 2 inches for Bermuda, and 1 to 2 inches for Zoysia.

* Crepe myrtles-Select these trees while they are in bloom. Remember, they can vary greatly in size and flower colors. Choose the right height for your landscape to help avoid overpruning and ruining the tree's natural form. Large crepe myrtles (more than 20 feet tall) include 'Natchez' (white) and 'Miami' (pink). Medium selections (less than 20 feet tall) include 'Near East' (pink) and 'Regal Red' (deep red). Small ones (less than 10 feet tall) include 'Acoma' (white), "Tonto' (red), 'Hopi' (pink), and 'Caddo' (bright pink). Dwarf selections (less than 5 feet tall) include 'Pocomoke' (pink) and 'Chickasaw' (lavender).

* Cut flowers-Snip stems at an angle and early in the morning to ensure a long vase life. Place in a bucket full of tepid water. Zinnias, rudbeckias, sunflowers, crinums, dahlias, and tithonias will all make excellent cut flowers.

* Azaleas and camellias-Because they have already started setting blooms for next year's spring show, it is very important not to prune azaleas at this time.

* Annuals-Cut back leggy annuals now so they will be full in the fall. Although it can be a little hard to do, it's ultimately good for the plants. Trim back your impatiens, coleus, begonias, narrow-leaf zinnias, and salvias by one-third. Water plants, and then fertilize with a slow-release, granular product such as Osmocote 14-14-14.

* Sunny days-To minimize exposure to the harsh rays of the sun, do your gardening in the morning and evening when the sun is at a lower angle and the temperature is cooler. Avoid working outside between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Always remember to wear sunscreen and a hat to protect your skin.

Copyright Southern Progress Corporation Jul 2004
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