We just experienced a few nice days after the longest, hottest triple-digit run that I can remember. More triple digits are on the way, but since we are more than 5 weeks from the solstice with the days a little shorter, here is hoping this next spell does not fry our plants as bad as the last one. I was a little surprised we did not have a run on our shade sails and shade cloth. Luckily, I had sprayed the shrubs and conifers with the pinene anti-transpirant available here, but it isn’t good on more tender things like roses and perennials. For them, I used a product called Garden Seal, which is just like the Cloud Cover we can no longer get. It is available through Amazon. I use this non-toxic product on my decks, and it is a perfect sealer for your wood raised beds. Our conifers that were in the afternoon sun still ended up with a lot of sun scorch. I had to cover my tomatoes with row cover cloth that I just placed on top of them. Seemed easier than making a support system for the heavier shade cloth, and it did protect them from the harsh sun.
Summer is winding down as many of our kids go back to school this month, and we are heading into fall planting season. This is the month to get your seedlings started to plant out in September. Time to start broccoli, kale, cabbage, and more if you plan on growing from seed. If not, we have begun to get some starts in now with more towards the end of the month and September. Many of you appreciate the winter garden as watering is not as big of a chore as in the summer garden, and insects are not as big of an issue either. Fall is also a good time to plant onions, garlic and potatoes here. We will have these for you in a couple of months.
Iris bulbs arrive this month, and the full spring blooming bulb selection next month.
Did this summer’s weather inspire you to plant more trees? If so, all our trees are 20% off in August. This includes shade, fruit, and ornamentals. Some good performing big shade trees are Chinese Pistache, Ash, Fruitless Mulberry, Catalpa and Chinese Elms. Maybe you want a large edible tree? Try Walnuts, Fruiting Mulberry or Persimmon. For smaller growing shade we have Purple Leaf Plums, Crabapples, Golden Rain, Chitalpa, Crepe Myrtles and our semi-dwarf fruit trees.
Maybe the heat has you thinking along the lines of more desert plants. We have some nice Yuccas in right now that would do the trick. Hesperaloe is another good choice and has colorful blooms in summer. Cold hardy Agaves and Mangaves are another option. Most of these do well in the sun all day. We have a good variety of succulents in but a lot of them do better out of all-day sun, and some of the coolest ones are not particularly cold-hardy. We have a lot that are only good to 25 degrees, and some to only 32. Most sedums and all Hens and Chicks will be fine in winter in well-drained soil. Make sure you read the tags for cold hardiness when buying so you know what you are getting. There are so many micro-climates in this county, and I am a little envious of those of you who tell me you only get light frost or none at all.
The Hibiscus moscheutos is budding and blooming now at the nursery. The pink one in the pond is in full bloom. These incredibly large flowers only last a day or two, but what a show. They will grow in shallow water or in the ground with some sun and lots of water. They go completely dormant for winter. Another cold hardy Hibiscus is Rose of Sharon. These grow to a big 5-6 ft. deciduous shrub with double or the traditional looking Hibiscus flower. Selection is more limited this year compared to past years. Crepe Myrtles and Rose of Sharons are some of the best choices for a summer blooming shrub in sun in our climate. Best to plant where deer can not get them.
Looking for deer-resistant and heat-tolerant sun perennials? We have them in stock. Sages/Salvias are one of the first things that comes to mind. Most will grow in full sun, although we have a few varieties that need a shadier spot, like Salvia Black and Blue. I read that they were going to reclassify Perovskia (aka Russian Sage) as a Salvia, but so far it looks like it is still listed with the current name. This is another great perennial that the breeders have been busy hybridizing into smaller and smaller varieties. You can now get them in an 18-inch, 2-3 ft, 3-4ft, or the original 5 ft grower. These are a wonderful addition to any garden as they bloom mid-summer into fall, with spikes of blue flowers and after Lavender has bloomed and faded. It is low maintenance, too. Just cut back in winter. Coreopsis, known as tick seed, and Gaillardia, known as Blanket Flower, are also good. Do not forget Cone Flower, Echinacea, as another great choice. Breeders have been very busy with this plant, too. Not only does it come in purple and white, but now you can get reds, oranges, and yellows. Yarrow is another great choice, and my favorite is Moonshine. All of these above-mentioned flowers attract pollinators.
We finally were able to get in some one-gallon Campsis Mme. Galen. Although not evergreen, these orange trumpet vines are some of the best summer-blooming, deer-resistant, heat-tolerant vines for us. Hummers like them, too. We also have some fresh Halls Honeysuckle, another good choice for a vine, although not on the deer-resistant list. Reports are not a favorite either. If deer are not a problem then why not consider covering your arbor with grapes? These are 20% off, and the selection of varieties is still good.
This is the time of year when we start moving some slower-selling and over-stocked products out with in-house reduced prices. If you are coming to the nursery, you might want to keep on eye out for some of these deals. Right now, we just put out New Dawn Climbing Rose at $20.00 and some low bowl glazed pots at half off. Hummingbird feeder sales have dropped, and we have many, so they are 20% off. More things will follow as these items dwindle.
I talked about feeding last month, and I will do so again. Remember that Citrus and your vegetable garden need constant feeding. The vegetable garden every 2-4 weeks depending on if you are using a liquid or granular. Same goes for your Citrus trees. Feeding and deadheading (that is, removing spent flowers) of your perennials, annuals, and roses will keep them producing into fall. This is the month when we like to cut back and feed our hanging baskets, especially if they have petunias and verbena in them or anything else that looks like more spent flowers and seed heads than bloom. This will give them a fresh look as they grow out again for fall.
Maybe you want to start fresh with some more fall-themed planters. Grasses mixed with our colorful coleus is one theme. Rudbeckia (Black-eyed Susan) or the perennial Sunflower could stand alone, but add some trailing Calibrochoas. How about the lemon-yellow Moonbeam Coreopsis, Orange Sedge, and a purple petunia or Dwarf Plumbago? A container with just succulents fills the bill, too. Fall blooming Asters and Mums will be coming in soon, so maybe plug a few of those into the containers you have going now. Pansies are right around the corner, too, and will last through winter.
August Specials
20% Off
All Trees (fruit, shade, and ornamental)
All Crepe Myrtles included
All Grapes, pomegranates, and berries
All Roses, All Coleus
Half off
Selected Glazed Low Bowl Pots
