It’s time to start planting warm-season vegetables for fall. This includes cucumbers, summer squash, and green beans for harvesting in late September and October.
Plant a fall potato crop in late August to early September. Start from seed potatoes that have been dusted with sulfur and allowed to cure for a few days or plant small whole potatoes left from the Spring crop. This will help them from rotting in the ground.
Start seeds of the cole crops like broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, Brussel sprouts, kale, collards, and kohlrabi. Plant in late September or early October. Set the seeded flats in an area with bright dappled shade until the seeds are up and growing. Keep the seeds moist to aid the germination process. Alternatively, start the seeds indoors and then move them outside as soon as they sprout.
Shear back the herbs in late summer by a third and give them a light sprinkling of fertilizer and water in well. Start new plants from the cuttings to share with others. Remove the bottom leaves and dip the cut end in rooting hormone. Place in a moist potting mix in a container and place a plastic bag over the container to hold in the moisture. Keep in a bright location but out of direct sun until you see new growth.
Continue to mulch with a 3-inch layer of mulch around flowering plants to conserve water moisture and deter weeds. Pull any plants that are not doing well in the heat. Continue to remove spent blooms to promote more flowers.
Annuals for fall color include marigolds, celosia, and zinnias in 4-inch pots. Look for copper plants, purple fountaingrass, and firebush.
Be on the lookout for fall perennials such as chrysanthemums, fall asters, Mexican bush sage, and Mexican mint marigold.
Plant cool-season seeds of snapdragons, dianthus, alyssum, and calendula. Once the seeds are up, move them to a brighter area underneath a shade tree. Fertilize lightly to promote good growth. They should be ready to set in the flowerbed in 6-8 weeks.
Roses are getting ready for their fall bloom time. Cut the plants back by a third, fertilize, and water them for a flush of new growth for the ball blooms that will form. Continue to watch for signs of foliage diseases and treat accordingly.
The best time to plant trees, shrubs, and vines is in the fall. Decide on what you want in the landscape and choose plants that do well in the area. Prepare the soil now, had some compost and remove the weeds.
Apply adequate moisture to fruit trees that bear in late summer and fall. These would include citrus, persimmons, and some grapes. Apply one inch of irrigation per week in the absence of ½ inch of rainwater to keep them adequately hydrated and to maintain good fruit development. Keep grass away from the area beneath the branch spread and mulch to 3 inches to help maintain moisture for the tree.
Pecans need good soil moisture to ensure well-filled kernels. Apply one inch of water per week in the absence of rainfall.
Water lawn grasses deeply and infrequently. Keep your lawn mower blades sharp and check irrigation sprinklers for proper working conditions.
Plant a fall potato crop in late August to early September. Start from seed potatoes that have been dusted with sulfur and allowed to cure for a few days or plant small whole potatoes left from the Spring crop. This will help them from rotting in the ground.
Start seeds of the cole crops like broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, Brussel sprouts, kale, collards, and kohlrabi. Plant in late September or early October. Set the seeded flats in an area with bright dappled shade until the seeds are up and growing. Keep the seeds moist to aid the germination process. Alternatively, start the seeds indoors and then move them outside as soon as they sprout.
Shear back the herbs in late summer by a third and give them a light sprinkling of fertilizer and water in well. Start new plants from the cuttings to share with others. Remove the bottom leaves and dip the cut end in rooting hormone. Place in a moist potting mix in a container and place a plastic bag over the container to hold in the moisture. Keep in a bright location but out of direct sun until you see new growth.
Continue to mulch with a 3-inch layer of mulch around flowering plants to conserve water moisture and deter weeds. Pull any plants that are not doing well in the heat. Continue to remove spent blooms to promote more flowers.
Annuals for fall color include marigolds, celosia, and zinnias in 4-inch pots. Look for copper plants, purple fountaingrass, and firebush.
Be on the lookout for fall perennials such as chrysanthemums, fall asters, Mexican bush sage, and Mexican mint marigold.
Plant cool-season seeds of snapdragons, dianthus, alyssum, and calendula. Once the seeds are up, move them to a brighter area underneath a shade tree. Fertilize lightly to promote good growth. They should be ready to set in the flowerbed in 6-8 weeks.
Roses are getting ready for their fall bloom time. Cut the plants back by a third, fertilize, and water them for a flush of new growth for the ball blooms that will form. Continue to watch for signs of foliage diseases and treat accordingly.
The best time to plant trees, shrubs, and vines is in the fall. Decide on what you want in the landscape and choose plants that do well in the area. Prepare the soil now, had some compost and remove the weeds.
Apply adequate moisture to fruit trees that bear in late summer and fall. These would include citrus, persimmons, and some grapes. Apply one inch of irrigation per week in the absence of ½ inch of rainwater to keep them adequately hydrated and to maintain good fruit development. Keep grass away from the area beneath the branch spread and mulch to 3 inches to help maintain moisture for the tree.
Pecans need good soil moisture to ensure well-filled kernels. Apply one inch of water per week in the absence of rainfall.
Water lawn grasses deeply and infrequently. Keep your lawn mower blades sharp and check irrigation sprinklers for proper working conditions.