Central Texas Gardener - August 9th, 2008

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August 9th, 2008

Horticulturist Patrick Kirwin designs new arenas with drought tolerant native ferns in sun and shade.

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Plant more tomatoes and peppers.
Watch out for spider mites. They love hot, dry conditions. Spoil their party by spraying them with water. Every time you turn a water hose upside down, and spray the bottoms of the leaves, you really mess the spider mites up. And even though they'll still be around, there will be very few of them and they won't be enough to do your plants much damage. Just water alone can control them if you, once a week or so, spray the undersides of your foliage.
Pecans and persimmons are carrying those fruits and nuts for the fall harvest. You want to make sure they get adequate water. If we don't get good water this time of year, the fruits' sizes will be smaller, and in some cases late in the season, the pecans just won't fill out as well. So a good soaking once a week is a good idea.
Cut back summer blooming shrubs to promote a new bloom cycle.
And finally if you have any summer blooming shrubs, cut them back now, and get a new bloom cycle, and they'll be just fine.
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