Jeff Rice

. . . August is usually one of the hottest months of the summer.  Planting can be this month,  just be prepared to be diligent about the watering and care of those plants.  Larger shrubs with lots of foliage and large trees will need to be watched carefully.  Use ‘Superthrive’ at the time of planting to minimize the chance of transplant shock. Fill the planting hole with water and let it drain away into the surrounding ground just before planting, thereby allowing the first watering of the plant to stay right around the root area. . . . Planting big things in the evening is helpful because the plant can get somewhat settled during the cooler evening, night, and early morning hours.  Water it well the following morning so it has plenty of moisture to draw on for the transition and for facing the heat of the day.  The disruption of the roots also disrupts the efficiency of the roots until they re-establish themselves. . . . August is a good month for maintenance and enjoying the fruits of your labor – whether they be harvesting fruits and vegetables, or simply enjoying the tranquil, shaded areas of your yard and …

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. . . It was a rocky start for most vegetable gardens this year.  We had such a cool spring with so much  changeable  weather that the little starter plants had difficulty getting started.  Then they were accosted by hail storms that ruined some of them.  I know that we were scrambling to get a new shipment of little vegetable plants out of harm’s way twice!  We hope that all the vegetable gardens are doing well by now and that you will be able to harvest veggies soon, if you are not already. . . . July is a month of what seems like non-stop watering.  It is also a month for vacations and other summer activities.  If you are leaving on a vacation, and have someone to do the watering for you, it would be a good idea to go over all the necessary things that need to be done.  That person needs to know any quirks in your watering system, and about any plant that needs extra care or that should not be watered daily, etc.  If you have an automated system, you might ask a relative, friend or neighbor to check it out a time or two …

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June 2010 Tips . . . This has been an unusual weather month for May with cool and changeable weather and certainly more rain than usual.  The few short warm spells we have had have encouraged people to start their vegetable gardens, only to discourage them because things just don’t want to grow when the weather turns cool again.  You can’t fool Mother Nature, but she can certainly fool us! . . . When the hot weather arrives, don’t be complacent about the necessity of thorough watering just because it hasn’t been a vital issue thus far.  During the heat of summer there are frequent calls about plants that are not doing well – wilting or scorched leaves, dropping blooms, dead branch ends – all signs of too little water.  Even with daily watering those symptoms can be seen because too little water is being delivered with each watering.  It is generally better to do a good deep watering every 2 to3 days which will help to soak the area well enough that it doesn’t dry out quickly.  Mulching helps to slow evaporation and can reduce the frequency irrigation.  When you visit the nursery, pick up a copy of our pass-out “Are …

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