Bloomin Times

If you have Iris in your perennial beds, they should be divided every 3-4 years. Late summer is the best time to divide them because their long tuberous roots (rhizomes) are dormant now. If not divided, the blooms become sparse and the rhizomes get matted and compete with each other for soil nutrients.

Carefully dig out the rhizomes and rinse off the excess soil. Examine all roots to be sure they are sound, if any feel soft or mushy, seperate them and discard them right away. Be sure to try and keep your different varieties separated.

Before replanting, replenish the soil with peat and bonemeal. Don't plant more than 3 roots to a clump, and spread out roots. Place the rhizomes so that the tops are about half way above the soil. Just barely cover the roots with soil. Do not plant them too deep !!!

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   DRIPPING TREES

Have you ever parked your car under a big old shade tree and discovered later that it was covered with sticky spots, and didn't know what it was ? The tree was dripping. It is caused by aphids that are feeding on the underside of the foliage.

As they suck in the leaf juices, they secrete a sticky substance called 'honeydew'. They mass in clusters as they feed, causing tree foliage to pucker and become discolored. The aphids are well disguised with brown markings and hairy green skin.

Some gardeners grin and bear them, while others prefer to spray their trees with Malathion or similar chemicals to control the aphids. Since their numbers naturally decrease as summer moves along, the choice is yours.

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   PRUNING

If you haven't done so already, prune your spring blooming shrubs now: (Lilacs, Viburnums, Deutzia, Mockorange, Spireas and Dogwoods)

Now is a good time to trim espalier fruit trees, shear or trim deciduous and evergreen hedges, and cut back any new growth spurs on your pyracantha to keep your plants shapely..

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   DID YOU KNOW ???

Insects are attracted to various parts of the color spectrum in varying degrees, and the brighter the light, the greater the number of insects that find it. The closer the light approaches the blue end of the color spectrum, the more insects are drawn to it. As the light approaches the red end of the spectrum, fewer insects are attracted to it.

Approximately 50-80% fewer bugs are attracted to yellow than to white light bulbs.

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   JULY WILDFLOWERS

Arrow-head...... Aster (red-stalked, purple-stemmed, or early purple)..... Bellflower..... Black-eyed Susan..... Bunchberry..... Butterfly-weed..... Camomile..... Chicory..... Dogbane..... Fleabane..... Foxglove (downy false)..... Golden-Rod..... Indian Pipes..... Jimson Weed..... Lily (blackberry, turk's cap)..... Lobelia..... Milkweed..... Mullein..... Pokeweed..... Queen Anne's Lace..... St John's-wort..... Solomon's Seal..... Speedwell..... Tansy..... Thistle.....Toadflax..... Turtle-head..... and Wintergreen.

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   BUTTERFLIES IN JULY

Here is a list of the butterflies that can be spotted in July. If you are interested in learning more about them, why not pick up a picture guide of Butterflies to help you identify any you may spot.

Buckeye..... Comma, The Gray..... Crescent, the Pearl..... Dusky-wing, the Sleepy..... Emperor, the Tawny..... Fritillary, Great Spangled, Regal, & Silver Spot..... Hair-streak, the Banded & the Gray..... Pearly Eye..... Purple, the Banded & the Red-spotted..... Sulphur, the Clouded..... Swallowtail..... Viceroy..... White, Checkered or Cabbage Butterfly..... White Mountain Butterfly..... Wood-nymph, the Common or Blue-eyed Grayling

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To Do List
- July -

• The spring rush is over...relax and move the hammock under a shade tree !!!



• Keep your roses watered (especially during dry spells)



• Be sure and dead-head your annuals (geraniums, petunias, snapdragons, marigolds etc.) to prolong their blooming



• Plant everbearing strawberry plants now



• Continue with your weekly spray program for your roses, and your fruit tree spray schedule



• Keep an eye out for moths of the peach tree borer (clear, 1 inch wings) around your fruit trees



• From June until August is the best time to take soft wood cuttings for propagation



• As soon as the last raspberry is picked...the pruning begins. All canes that bore fruit this year should be cut to the ground



• If you haven't done so already, mulch your beds, trees and evergreens to help conserve moisture during the hot dry summer



• Use Sevin to control Japanese beetles on your roses, fruit trees and shrubs



• Divide your Oriental poppies



• Shear off the spent flower heads of candytuft and creeping phloxs



• During the hot days of summer, don't cut the lawn too short



• The open season for slaying crab-grass has begun



• Apply fertilizer regularly to plants growing in tubs, window boxes, and containers



• Now is a good time to sow columbine and pansy seeds outdoors, for next year

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