If you’re an early riser, there are a few odds and ends you can tackle in your landscape — even during these sizzling summer days.
Even during the hottest times of the summer, South Texas gardeners have lots to do in the garden. As long as you start early in the morning, stay hydrated and wear sun screen, you can still enjoy your time outside.
So dust off your tools and put on your gardening gear — there’s work to do:
Roses— Encourage fall blooms by removing dead branches and any crossing stems. Fertilize each plant with one cup of slow release fertilizer. Insects can be managed with acephate, spinosad or insecticidal soap. Disease can be reduced with chemicals such as triflorine (aka Funginex), propiconazole (aka Banner), copper or sulfur-based products or organic products such potassium bicarbonate and neem oil.
Tomatoes — It’s time to put new plants in the garden. Seek out heat setters like HM8849, 444, ‘Tycoon’, ‘Red Snapper, ‘Valley Cat’, ‘Celebrity’, and BHN968. Tomatoes should be irrigated lightly every day for the first five days and then watered every three days or when the soil dries under the mulch. (My personal favorite: live oak leaves. They’re easy to move, decompose slowly and are attractive.) Apply two cups of slow release lawn fertilizer per 100 square feet of bed prior to planting.
Okra, peppers and southern peas— Keep them harvested and watered so they’ll continue producing.
Fire ants — For those mounds outside the garden, use acephate. If a mound is in the garden, use products containing permethrin or spinosad.
And as always, keep your lawn green and save water by following the recommended watering advice.
4 Comments
Hello from “JC Joe”!
Well I finally did it I made the dangerous 130 mile mile round trip to Milberger’s and bought the famous or infamous Rio Grande Gold Peppers and unfortunately I shopped for plants which swore I wouldn’t do. But when you drive 130 miles to one of the best garden centers one is bound to do more shopping.
So now that I have the peppers what should I do? All plants where in excellent condition when I bought them. I the past this is what I do with peppers and tomatoes:
I dig the right size hole and thoroughly water in the hole several times. Then I put 2 tomato/pepper tablets in the hold for long term fertilizing with a table spoon of episons salt, I cover the plants with earth and then cover again with compost. And then I add mulch, usually oak leaves. I fertilize as such: I water in a a solution of Miracle-Gro or Hasta Grow once a week. I also spray the plants with the same.
Is there any thing else I should consider?
Thanks.
JC Joe
If the method you have used in the past worked well for you then I think you will do just fine with your fall crop. Just let us know if any disease or insects issues come up this fall that you might need help with.
We are out of Mexican Olive trees and have not found any available to order from our venders so far this season.
Our Cora Vinca plants are winding down for the season so right now on hand I have just some mixed 6 pack Vinca with red, white, lavender, and pink.
Johnson City Joe aka Papa Joe
Looking for Pomegranate trees and like to the cost. I’m on the NE side of San Antonio tx
We only have the “Wonderful Pomegranate” variety in 5# pots for $29.99 (2-3’ tall) and 15# pots for $129.99 (5-6’ tall).
We just got in some of our fall assortment of Citrus with Meyer Lemon and Lisbon Lemon trees for $44.99 each in 3# pot and about 4 feet tall with a good 1 ½’ or more canopy.
when can you replant rose bushes?
You can plant new rose bushes at any time of the year but the best time for planting is from fall into spring when the cooler temperatures allow for quicker and easier rooting and recovery. We receive our new shipment of potted rosed by mid-March here at Milberger Nursery If the rose bush needs to be transplanted then it should be done in the fall from September through early November and again in February, when transplanting you should cut the rose bush back to the biggest branches of at least pencil to ½” diameter or better and cut the bush back to 2’ or 1 ½’ off the ground to reduce stress and recover roots quickly.