There's still time to plant zucchini, cucumber, lettuce, radish, and beans. Carrots, kale, beets, and chard can be sown now for a fall crop. Late in the month, broccoli and cauliflower plants can be planted for the fall. Fall peas should be planted at the end of the month.

Vegetables will benefit from a side dressing of fertilizer, such as 5-10-5. Just sprinkle a small amount around the base of the plant, or along the row, and scratch into the soil lightly.

Fertilize roses and shrubs for the last time this year. Keep annuals and perennials dead-headed to encourage more blooms.

Chrysanthemums should be pinched back one last time before mid-month.

Deep watering is important during the hot months. Water annuals, vegetables, and perennials by soaking slowly. Water new trees and shrubs (1-2 years old) during periods of drought.

Keeping the lawn mowed at 3" will help avoid heat stress. Watch for chinch bugs, and web worms at the edges of brown patches in the lawn.

Place bird netting over blueberry bushes and peach trees to protect the fruit. Some pests to watch for this month are: aphids, lace bugs, white fly, and spider mites.

In your water garden, put water lilies down 12-18" below the surface. Seventy five percent of the pond surface should be covered with plant material to keep algae under control. For every 2 square feet of surface area, you need one clump of oxygenating plants (hornwort, anacharis, etc.).

When water hyacinths become numerous, corral them with a ring of plastic tubing. This will encourage them to bloom. Add those tropicals now. Although they are not hardy, most will grow and/or bloom until November.

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