perennial color

It's hot, but you can still have color in your yard. Purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) blooms throughout the summer. Good choices include 'Magnus,' 'KiM's Knee High,' and 'White Swan.' Look for some of the new Big Sky Hybrids such as yellow-blooming 'Sunrise' and orange-flowered 'Sunset.' These perennials prefer full sun and well-drained soil that has some organic matter such as composted manure, mushroom compost, or peat. When adding them to your garden, it is important that you plant them at the same depth that they were in the container and water them well until established. To help transition these plants, use a root stimulator such as Miracle-Gro Quick Start Transplant Starter Solution 4-12-4 or Schultz Starter Plus Transplanting Solution 5-10-5. To learn about colorful perennials for shade, see "Whole Lotta Hostas" on page 56. -GENE B. BUSSELL

FRAGRANCE

Gardenias, butterfly gingers, tuberoses, and 'Purple Prince' and 'Dartmoor' butterfly bushes add welcome perfume to the summer garden. Enjoy their scents inside by cutting a few stems to make a simple arrangement or supplement purchased flowers.

ORNAMENTAL PEPPERS

These fun plants love the heat of summer and offer brightly colored fruit against attractive foliaGe. TrY 'Black Pearl,' a 2006 All-America Selection Winner (pictured above, right). Other good choices include 'Chilly Chili' and 'Medusa.' They work well in both containers and flowerbeds.

LEGGY ANNUALS

Cut back these plants now so they will be full in the fall. Trim impatiens, coleus, begonias, narrow-leaf zinnias, and salvias by one-third. Water and then fertilize. If you are too busy, use a slow-release, granular product such as Osmocote Vegetable & Bedding Smart Release Plant Food 14-14-14 or Scotts All Purpose Flower & Vegetable Continuous Release Plant Food 10-10-10.

MOSQUITOES

Reduce the number of mosquitoes breeding in your yard by following a few simple steps. Empty all sources of standing water from buckets or plant saucers. Keep rouf gutters clear of debris so rain does not collect. Empty and refill birdbaths at least once a week. Ditches, low spots in your yard, and places of standing water (such as water gardens and goldfish ponds) can be treated for these pests. Easy, convenient, and safe products to use are Mosquito Bits in a granular form (pictured above, right) and Mosquito Dunks in a solid form. Look for these at nurseries and garden centers, or order online at www.biconet.com.

SUNNY DAYS

To minimize your exposure to the sun, avoid being outside between 10a.m. and 4 p.m. Remember to always wear sunscreen, a longsleeved shirt, and a hat with a wide brim to protect your skin.

Copyright Southern Progress Corporation Jul 2006
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