July
2007
Community Paper
copyright ©2007 by Community Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved.
JULY
IN THE GARDEN
by Nick Francisco, Blodgett Gardens
3821 Edgewater Drive, 407-295-2363
Summer is now officially here and with it comes our regularly scheduled afternoon thundershowers. Your plants will enjoy their daily shower as it washes away dirt, cools leafs, washes off mites, and replenishes soil moisture. We tend to take the daily rains for granted and enjoy the days when NO rain falls. However our plants require about an inch of water a week in two or three rainfalls. When this does not occur we must supplement the lack of rainfall with irrigation. Two irrigations per week. Each irrigation should apply one half to three quarters of an inch of water per zone. Most spray heads will run from 15 to 30 minutes. Most rotor heads will run from 35 to 90 minutes. A cup test will confirm run times. Is your rain sensor functioning properly? Monthly checks of your irrigation system will keep it operating in top condition increasing the health of your landscape. When the summer rains do come we generally receive more than an inch of water per week. Sometimes an inch or two a day. This large volume of water moving through the soil carries with it any water soluble nutrients. We replace these lost nutrients with fertilizers. Organic matter added to the soil will hold these nutrients in the root zones of our plants much as a sponge holds water. July and August are the summer months for adding organics to the soil like Turf Pro and Natural Guard Soil Activator. Both increase organic matter in the soil by feeding natural microbial populations which collect and pass on nutrients to our landscape plants and turf.
AZALEA CARE TRIMMING-all azaleas (especially the large Formosa or Indica types) will get leggy unless pruned to keep a compact shape. Did you know Indica azaleas begin to set their blooms for next winter in August and that by trimming them in late August or September you will be removing next seasons blooms? Be safe trim in July and tip the new shoots by August 15th so you may reap the reward of bountiful blossoms next January, February, and March. Remember to trim large growing shrubs narrower on the top and wider at the base to allow the sun to penetrate the lower limbs so foliage grows to the ground without any bare spots.
FEEDING-I feed with Fertilome Azalea food with "Systemic." This fertilizer has a dose of Disyston a systemic insecticide that I encourage everyone with azaleas or camellias to use. Why? Because the Disyston will kill off lacebugs and scales when applied every 6 to 8 weeks. Persistant problem with lacebugs youll need to mix and apply Hi Yield Cygon to control the lacebugs and scales. Remember Cygon production has been halted and available supplies are limited as the product is removed from the market alternative controls are available but are not as easy to use or effective except the granular Hi Yield Disyston.
INSECT CONTROL- Caterpillars will munch on azaleas from time to time arid can be real pests. Best and safest control is Fertilome Dipel Dust or liquid BT.
FUNGUS-Fungal leaf spots will mark up the foliage and can increase leaf drop. Regular applications of Natural Guard Liquid Copper will reduce leaf spots as well as reduce the incidence of gradual decline. Azaleas and other ornamentals that have branches die one at a time are often suffering from gradual decline. this symptom is caused by dormant vascular fungi that clog up the plants transport system killing all parts past the clog. Remove the affected portion two to three inches below the affected part and spray with liquid copper or fertilome systemic fungicide to slow the spread of these organisms. Have fun in the garden early morning or late evening avoiding the heat of the day for a happy healthy gardening experience.
Have a safe and Happy Fourth of July!!
Blodgett Gardens is now channel 9's local garden expert.
Channel 9 has a forum through their website where individuals may ask specific
questions to their problems and we (the experts) will answer their specific
questions rather than having to come into the store. Of course visual ID is
required for some solutions but many may be answered without seeing a sample.
