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| Kong Coleus adds virbrant color to the shady summer garden. |
New Orleans summer gardens reach their peak in July and August with an explosion of color from warm-season annuals, vines and tropicals. Enjoy the display but don’t forget to assess your landscape and plan for the fall gardening season. Take notes on problems such as overgrowth and disease. Decide which plants need to be moved and where. With some careful observation now, you can avoid hours of damage control later.
Summer thunderstorms provide welcomed relief from the heat. But too much moisture can be destructive and encourage fungus organisms to infect and potentially kill plants. So don’t forget to adjust the automatic timer on your irrigation system appropriately to avoid over-soaking your landscape. Under saturated conditions, consider pulling back mulch from around plants to help the soil dry faster. But be sure you keep weeds under control while the mulch is off.
It’s also time to start on the cool-season vegetable garden. If you have a patch that gave way to weeds sometime in July, dig in and turn it over, get rid of those weeds and add some compost. Then you can cover the area with a clear plastic sheet, taking care to bury the edges. Leave it on for few weeks to solarize the soil, a process that is said to kill nematodes and weed seeds. When you take off the plastic, dig in more organic matter, build up some rows and start planting.
Here are a few of the timely tips we share for July and August: when to prune hydrangeas, gardenias and plant plams, all about heat-zone gardening, how to mow like a pro, identify poison ivy, select a string trimmer and much more.
Enjoy your summer vacation and look for more NOLA gardening tips when the GNO Gardener returns in the fall!!
The Flower Garden | The Edible Garden | The Healthy Garden | The Garden Shed
Favorite Field Trips | Plant Sales | General Information
It’s time to:
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Break off caladium flowers when they appear to encourage more foliage.
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Prune gardenias and hydrangeas by mid-July.
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Prune ever-blooming roses to about one third their height in late August and early September.
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Dig and divide Louisiana irises, Easter lilies and calla lilies in August.
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Deadhead faded flowers from blooming annuals and perennials.
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Trim plants in hanging baskets to stimulate new growth; consider rooting some of the cuttings.
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Cut back, then fertilize bedding plants such as impatiens, begonia, lantana, blue daze, verbena, pentas, salvia and periwinkle to produce stockier plants this fall.
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Stake tall perennials to keep them upright.
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Plant or transplant palms through the summer.
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Apply a second round of fertilizer to lawns in July (optional).
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Sod or repair lawns now through September.
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Spray roses with a fungicide before disease organisms attack, especially blackspot; repeat at 7- to 10-day intervals.
- Water regularly when weather is dry; two or three times a week for newly planted bedding plants; daily for container gardens.
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Apply sufficient mulch to conserve moisture and prevent weeds.
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Prune azaleas, if necessary, no later than mid-July.
Summer gardening tips from LSU AgCenter experts follow:
New Landscape Plant Feature: Kong Coleus. Coleus have been all the rage for 10 years or so. Most of the new coleus that have come on the market recently have been sun-loving or sun-type coleus. But a new coleus for shade has been impressive in LSU AgCenter trials at Burden Center in Baton Rouge. [Allen Owings, LSU AgCenter]
Get Spectacular Flowers with Tropical Hibiscus. No other summer-flowering shrub surpasses the tropical hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis) for glossy, dark-green foliage and nonstop flowers in shades and blends of pink, yellow, orange, white, lavender or scarlet. And their exceptionally long blooming season runs from late spring through late fall.
Prune Hydrangeas and Gardenias Immediately After Blooming. Hydrangeas and gardenias bloom in the early summer. Although most of the summer-flowering shrubs we grow in our landscapes bloom on new growth, hydrangeas and gardenias set their flower buds in late summer. When the plants finish flowering, prune them quickly so as not to cut off next year's flower buds. [Dan Gill, LSU AgCenter - Audio]
Plan Ahead for a Beautiful Container Garden. Container gardens full of beautiful plants are all the rage these days. When using an outdoor container, make sure it’s nice and large to fit into the scale of the outdoors. When choosing the plants, make sure they look good together. [Dan Gill, LSU AgCenter - Video]
Buddleias One of the Better Butterfly Plants for the Landscape. Buddleias, known by most home gardeners as butterfly bush, are becoming an increasingly popular plant in the home landscape, according to LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dr. Allen Owings.
Crocosima Is an Easy-To-Grow Summer Flowering Bulb. Many gardeners are painting their summer landscapes with the sweeping colors of beautiful flowers. Gardeners can use a perennial flowering plant that’s not only colorful but also easy to grow in sun or shade – and resistant to major diseases and insects. [Dan Gill, LSU AgCenter, Video]
Plant Palm Trees During Summer Months. Palm trees can be grown all over Louisiana. If you want to add a palm to your landscape, now is the time to plant them. Homeowners in North Louisiana should choose hardy palms for their climate. [Dan Gill, LSU AgCenter,
Audio]
Ornamental Grasses Have Many Positive Traits. There are many beautiful ornamental grasses that can be used as decorative borders. They are drought tolerant and have good insect and disease resistance. Gardeners can find a wide variety of ornamental grasses at gardening centers -- with at least one that will fill their needs. [Dan Gill, LSU AgCenter, Audio]
Angelonias As Pretty As Their Name. One of the great joys of gardening is discovering new and attractive plants that thrive in our climate. An outstanding summer bedding plant called angelonia (Angelonia angustifolia) falls precisely into this category. [Dan Gill, LSU AgCenter]
It’s time to:
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Harvest: figs in early July (cover the tree with bird netting to prevent damage); pears by late August; summer herbs such as mint, basil, rosemary, lemon balm and Mexican tarragon.
- Plant these vegetables in July: broccoli*, cabbage*, cantaloupe, cauliflower*, collards, eggplant**, okra, peanuts, bell peppers*, hot peppers**, pumpkins, Southern peas, squash, tomatoes*.
- Plant these vegetables in August: broccoli*, Brussels sprouts*, cabbage*, cauliflower*, collards*, cucumbers*, eggplant**, kohlrabi*, lima beans, mustard greens, Southern peas, peppers**, Irish potatoes***, rutabagas, bunching onions, shallots****, snap beans, squash*, tomatoes*, turnips. (* plant seeds or transplants; ** plant transplants, *** plant whole, small seed potatoes, **** plant sets.)
Prune Blackberries in Summer for Best Results. Summer pruning of blackberries is an important management tool. It is helpful in fruit harvesting, controlling insects and controlling diseases, according to LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dr. John Pyzner.
Some Vegetables Can't Take the Heat. When it comes to vegetable gardening in Louisiana, gardeners should take advantage of our year-round growing season. Yes, even in the torrid depths of summer there are delicious, heat-tolerant vegetables you can plant now to keep your garden productive. [Dan Gill, LSU AgCenter]
Success with Summer Tomatoes. Louisiana summers are a tough time for tomatoes to set and hold fruit. The heat causes irregular flower growth in most cultivars, and the result is poor fruit set, according to LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dr. Tom Koske.
Heat Zone Gardening. How important is summer heat in determining the success of our landscape plants? We all know it is critical, but now we have some new information that will simplify the process of selecting landscape plants based on their ability to tolerate Louisiana summers. [Allen Owings, LSU AgCenter]
Mow Like a Pro. Does your lawn have ruts or stripes caused by mower tires? Have you ever envied the beautiful checkerboard and diagonal patterns on golf greens and other sports fields? [Richard Parish, LSU AgCenter]
Soluble Fertilizers Can Add a Boost of Nutrients for Plants. Fertilizers are products that add essential minerals and nutrients to the soil. Soluble fertilizers are dissolved in water and applied as a liquid to plants. They provide immediate nutrients to plants, but they do have drawbacks. [Dan Gill, LSU AgCenter]
Don't Let Poison Ivy Get You. I recently came across some poison ivy as I was working in an out-of-the-way area of my landscape. I keep a sharp eye out for this plant, since I’m quite allergic, and I promptly and ruthlessly deal with any as soon as I see it. [Dan Gill, LSU AgCenter]
Garden Tool Quality. You have probably noticed the wide range in price of garden tools - shovels, rakes, hoes, digging forks, etc. You may have wondered what you get for the additional cost or how to evaluate actual quality when selecting a tool. One of the major distinctions between low-quality and high-quality tools is the way the toolhead is manufactured. [Richard L. Parish, LSU AgCenter]
Selecting and Using a String Trimmer. String trimmers are an essential tool for grounds maintenance professionals and for most homeowners who maintain their own lawns. The advent of string trimmers more than 30 years ago revolutionized turf maintenance and made other methods of trimming turfgrass obsolete. You have many choices in selecting a string trimmer. [Richard L. Parish, LSU AgCenter]
Thursdays at Twilight Garden Concert Series
Ongoing every Thursday evening through August 30, 2007
Open 5 'til 8pm, Performance at 6 p.m.
New Orleans Botanical Garden - Pavilion of the Two Sisters
Meet the Master Gardeners of Greater New Orleans on Thursday, August 16th, when we all attend the Thursday Twilight Garden Concert featuring the new Paul Soniat Band. In addition to being a talented musician and songwriter, Paul is also director of the New Orleans Botanical Garden.
Refreshments available: Mint Juleps and Wine $4, Beer $3 and Appetizers $4, Soft Drinks and Water $1. Outside food and drink not permitted.
Series sponsored by Phelps Dunbar and The Azby Fund. Support provided by Republic Beverage Company, New Orleans Musica da Camera, WWNO 89.9fm, and the New Orleans Botanical Garden. Adults $6, Children (5-12) $2, Children under 4 free. Sorry, admission is not included in Friends of City Park membership.
Click here for a complete list of scheduled performers. For more information, call (504) 482-4888 or email info@nocp.org.
Support our local Farmer's Markets. There are several good ones in our area:
- Crescent City Farmer's Market
Tuesdays 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Uptown Square, 200 Broadway
Saturdays 8 a.m. to 12 noon
Downtown 700 Magazine Street at Girod
- Gretna Farmer's Market
Every Saturday 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Huey P. Long Avenue between 3rd and 4th Streets in Gretna
- Upper 9th Ward Farmer's Market
Every Saturday
1 pm - 4 pm
3500 St Claude ("Holy Angels")
482- 5722
Plant Sale
New Orleans Botanical Garden
Saturday, August 4, 2007
9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon
Shop unusual and native plants cultivated by volunteer growers at the New Orleans Botanical Garden. Admission to the sales area in the Botanical Garden is free. Bring a wagon; arrive early for best selection; check or cash only- sorry, no credit cards. For more information call 504·483·9386.
We know what it means to garden in Orleans ... Jefferson, Plaquemines and St. Bernard too!
Master Gardeners of Greater New Orleans
Serving Orleans, Jefferson, Plaquemines and St. Bernard parishes