Colourful sticks or pegs (Golf Tees even!) can be stuck in the ground to mark the
location of dormant plants such as spring bulbs or perennials.
Keep tall
flowers staked and cut out dead flower stalks.
Disbudding
chrysanthemums produces larger blooms. Most mums, except spray types, respond
well to disbudding. All prolific flowering plants will benefit greatly from
this easy task.
Since
container-grown plants have a limited area from which to absorb water, plants
in a sunny location may require watering several times a week. Check plants
often to avoid water stress.
Cut Lavenders
intended for dried flower arrangements when the blooms are only half open. Tie
small bundles of the flowers together and hang them upside down in a well aired
place to dry.
Check on water
needs of hanging baskets daily in the summer. Wind and sun dry them much more
quickly than other containers.
Clean up fallen
rose and peony leaves. They can harbour disease and insect pests over the
winter if allowed to remain on the ground.
Pinch off Allium
flower buds from the top of the plants to direct all of the plant's energy into
the developing bulb instead of seed production.
Mound soil over
the roots of sun flowers for extra support against strong winds.
Remove old
plants which have died to eliminate a shelter for insects and disease
organisms.
Water the garden
early in the day so plants can absorb the moisture before the hot sun dries the
soil. Early watering also insures that the foliage dries before night. Wet
foliage at night increases susceptibility to fungus diseases.
Many herbs
self-sow if the flowers are not removed. Dill produce seeds that fall around
the parent plant and come up as volunteers the following spring.
To reduce the
number of pests on your fruit tree for the coming year, pick up and destroy all
fallen fruit.
Every weed that
produces seed means more trouble next year. Control weeds before they go to
seed.
Do not add weeds with mature seed heads to the compost pile. Many weed seeds can remain active and germinate next year when the compost is used.