Keep Cool, Don't Be A Fool

In lieu of doing another Plant of the Day entry, today seems like a perfect opportunity to highlight some safety tips and give some gardening advice for the month of August.

Safety Tips for Summer Gardening

1) First of all, the main thing to remember in the heat of a Hot Southern Summer is that it's all about water - for both you and your plants. Make sure you hydrate if you're working outdoors. Don't make the mistake of waiting until you're suddenly thirsty to take a sip of water; instead, know that you must stay hydrated and drink periodically while gardening. It may be tempting to grab a beer or a Lynchburg Lemonade, but alcohol is one of the worst things you can drink on a hot summer day.

Gardening Tips for July

Here are some good tips for gardening in Alabama during the month of May. We update these regularly each month, so stay tuned for more in the Gardening Tips series!

Tips courtesy of Alabama Cooperative Extension System; for more information, see www.aces.edu.

• Protect figs and other ripening fruit from birds.
• Continue to root shrub cuttings until late in the month and mulch to keep soil moist.
• Remove faded blooms promptly from crape myrtle and other summer-blooming plants.
• In lawns, watch for diseases. Mow regularly, and water as needed.
• Keep roses healthy and actively growing.
• Apply fertilizer as needed. Wash off foliage to prevent burning if any fertilizer falls on plants.
• Water annuals and perennials as needed to keep plants active.
• Iris and spider lily bulbs may be planted late this month.
• Keeping flowers, shrubs, trees, and lawns healthy is the major task this month. This demands close observation for insects and diseases, and frequent watering.
• Plant beans, field peas, rutabagas, squash, New Zealand spinach, and Irish potatoes. Plant cabbage, collards, broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, and celery for the fall crop.
• Plant tomatoes in Central and North Alabama.

Gardening Tips for May

Here are some good tips for gardening in Alabama during the month of May. We update these regularly each month, so stay tuned for more in the Gardening Tips series!

Tips courtesy of Alabama Cooperative Extension System; for more information, see www.aces.edu.

Fruits and Nuts

• Continue spray program.
• Keep grass from around trees and strawberries.
• Peaches and apples can still be budded.

Shrubs

• Newly planted shrubs need extra care now and in coming weeks.
• Don’t spray with oil emulsions when temperature is above 85 °F.

Lawns

• Now is the best time to start lawns from seed.
• Water new lawns as needed to prevent drying.
• Keep established lawns actively growing by watering fertilizing and mowing.
• Spray weeds in lawns with proper herbicide.

Roses

• Spray or dust for insects and diseases.
• Fertilize monthly with complete fertilizer or rose special.
• Container-grown plants in flower may be planted.
• Prune climbing roses after the first big flush offlowering.

Annuals and Perennials

• Late plantings of bedding plants still have time to produce.
• Watch for insects on day lilies.

Bulbs

• Summer bulbs started in containers may still be planted.
• Do not remove foliage from spring flowering bulbs.
• Do not let seedheads form on tulips and other spring flowering bulbs.

Miscellaneous

• Mulch new shrub plantings if not already done.
• Avoid drying out new shrub, tree and lawn plantings.

Vegetable Seeds

• Plant heat-loving and tender vegetables.
• Start cauliflower, brussels sprouts and celery in coldframe for fall garden.

Vegetable Plants

• Plant tomatoes, peppers, eggplants and sweet potatoes.

Gardening Tips for April

Here are some good tips for gardening in Alabama during the month of April. We'll update these regularly each month, so stay tuned for more in the Gardening Tips series!

Tips courtesy of Alabama Cooperative Extension System; for more information, see www.aces.edu.

Fruits and Nuts

• Season for strawberry planting continues.
• Start spray program for all fruits.
• Plant raspberries and blackberries and continue budding apples and peaches.

Shrubs

• Prune spring flowering shrubs after flowering.
• Fertilize azaleas and camellias.
• When new growth is half completed, spray all shrubs with a fungicide.

Lawns

• Planting continues.
• New lawns may need supplementary watering.
• Also, fertilize at 3- to 6-week intervals.
• Keep ryegrass cut low, particularly if over planted on bermuda lawns.

Roses

• Watch for insects and diseases
• Keep old flower heads removed
• Plant container-grown plants from nurseries or garden centers.

Annuals and Perennials

• Plant early started annuals or bedding plants from nurseries or garden centers.
• Divide mums or root cuttings.
• Dig and divide dahlias.

Bulbs

• Plant gladiolus, fancy-leaved caladiums, milk and wine lilies, and ginger and gloriosa lilies.
• Feed bearded iris with superphosphate and spray for borers.
• Avoid cutting foliage of narcissus or other bulbs until it has turned brown naturally.

Miscellaneous

• Spray camellias, hollies, etc., for scale insects.
• Carefully water new plantings of shrubs and trees.
• Pinching out tips of new shoots promotes more compact shrubs.

Vegetable Seed

• Plant tender vegetables such as beans, corn, squash, melons, and cucumbers.
• Plant heat-loving vegetables in lower South Alabama.

Vegetable Plants

• Plant tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, sweet potatoes, and parsley.

Gardening Tips for March

Here are some good tips for gardening in Alabama during the month of March. We'll update these regularly each month, so stay tuned for more in the Gardeing Tips series!

Tips courtesy of Alabama Cooperative Extension System; for more information, see www.aces.edu.

Fruits and Nuts

• Continue strawberry and grape plantings.
• Bud apples and peaches.
• Start planting blackberries.
• Remember, if weather conditions prevent prompt planting, heel the plants in by placing the root system in a trench and covering the soil.

Shrubs

• Fertilize shrubs (except azaleas and camellias) according to a soil test.
• Late plantings may be made, particularly if they are container-grown.
• Watch shrubs for harmful insects.

Lawns

• Plant bermuda, zoysia, and centipede in South Alabama.
• Seed bluegrass and grass mixtures in North Alabama.
• Fertilize established lawns.

Roses

• Watch new growth for aphids.
• Begin a spray or dust program.
• Begin fertilizing.

Annuals and Perennials

• Tender annuals may be planted in South Alabama.
• Check garden centers for bedding plants.

Bulbs

• Plant gladiolus every two or three weeks if a long blooming season is desired.
• Plant tuberous begonias in pots.
• Plant dahlias.

Miscellaneous

• Check and repair sprayers, dusters, and lawn mowers.
• Control lawn weeds with chemicals.
• Delay pruning of fruiting shrubs such as cotoneasters, pyracanthas, and hollies until after flowering.

Vegetable Seeds

• Plant hardy crops recommended for January and February.
• After danger of frost is past, plant tender vegetables.

Vegetable Plants

• Plant cabbage, onions, lettuce, broccoli, and Brussels sprouts in North Alabama.
• Plant tomatoes and peppers in lower South Alabama.

Visit the Gerlach Plant Information Center inside the Garden Center during March and April for the exhibit Tomatoes: there is more to this crop than you think!