For Gardeners in the Heat of Summer
1. Mulch and water: Your vegetable garden, landscape, flower-
beds and trees need some help to make it through this torrid month.
Mulch generously, and water deeply.
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2. Lawn care: Your grass also needs deep, infrequent watering (5
day schedule) and keep the cutting height for your lawnmower as
high as possible. This will help shade the roots and conserve water.
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3. Vegetables: This is the month to start sweet corn, okra (see pic
above) snap beans, cream peas and black-eyed peas from seed.
Because the first frost (on average Nov. 27) is likely to occur with-
in 120 days, use transplants for your peppers and tomatoes. During
the second half of this month, plant your broccoli, cabbage and
Brussels sprouts.
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4. Survive! While it is nice of you to nurse your plants through
this brutal month, it is perhaps even more important that you look
after yourself. Here are three gardening rules that you must follow!
A. Garden early in the morning. B. Wear effective sunscreen and
a large brimmed hat. C. Drink gallons of water! (See link above
to Old Farmer's Almanac for more details on this.)
For the Birds in the Heat of Summer
1. Water: Set up a birdbath in your garden. Keep it topped up every
day, and clean once a week. Keep the area nearby clear, so that
predatory cats have nowhere to hide.
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2. Food: Help our feathered friends survive with some good qual-
ity seeds. Buy in bulk from feed stores to save money.
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3. Hummingbirds: Mix 4 parts water to 1 part sugar and place in
a feeder, and enjoy the magic of the visiting hummers. Make sure
your feeder is red (their favorite color), and you can tie a red ribb-
on nearby to help them find their way.
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4. Brush piles: While out in the yard, create little brush piles here
and there out of twigs and branches. This will protect the birds so
they can feed on the ground, and if a cat appears or a hawk swoops
down, they’ll have somewhere to retreat.
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5. Native landscapes: Our native birds grew up with native berries,
and they are the best form of nourishment. Keep this in mind when
shopping for plants. Sunflowers, salvias, yaupon holly, possum
haw holly, agarita, coral berry, American beautyberry and Turks
Happy Gardening Everyone!
