There is a delicate shift now that midsummer has passed. As less of the Sun's rays reach the earth, the air cools, and the harvest season begins. Most of us are ready to sink in to the thought of autumn, which is not far off on the horizon.

What to Buy / Plant
Prepare for planting by cleaning beds and spreading mulch.
Choose and plant fall color trees such as liquid amber, maples, and ginkgo.
Now is the time to purchase chrysanthemums, firespike, gingers, clerodendrum, candlebrush, tibouchina, cassia and cuphia.
Plant all types of permanent evergreen landscape plants, such as cephylotaxus duke gardens, and creeping yew also look for evergreen vines including milletia and one species of clematis.
Begin to think about purchasing bulbs now through November. Keep them in a cool dry place until planting time.
Plant herbs

Prune/ Propagate
Keep deadheading flowers removing spent blooms before they have a chance to seed. Not only will the plants look better, but if allowed to shed seeds, they're more likely to stop producing new blooms.
Trim hedges and prune shrubs that require shaping.
Divide irises and daylillies

Fertilizing
Give the last fertilization of the year, allowing new growth time to harden off before the first freeze.
Annuals should have another feeding in winter.

Edibles
Early in the month, plant seeds in the ground for fall and winter vegetables.
Plant leafy greens and fall vegetables including broccoli, cabbage, green onions, radishes, collards, turnips, mustard, beets, leeks, kale,and spinach.
Fruits and vegetables should be picked as soon as they're ripe to avoid giving pests a free lunch. Garlic and onions can be harvested when you notice their dry foliage. Let them air-dry.

Pests
Rake up leaves early to prevent insects and the spread of disease
At first notice of insects hose-blast them off leaves or spray them with an insecticidal soap.

For Fun
Add life and color to your garden by feeding birds flying south for the winter. Birdfeeders that can be seen from indoors provide hours of entertainment for both young and old.

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Garden Tips for August 2009
brought to you by Nancy George
Damayan Director and Expert Horticulturalist

Gardeners are becoming increasingly more adventurous while using quite ordinary plants. The lure of ornamental grass is strong, and considered to be highly architectural. Like threads in embroidery, their leaves produce a living texture. Their rounded outlines form a gentle silhouette that allows the eye to flow over until the gentlest breeze sends a whisper of refreshing sight to the spirit. Ornamental grasses offer a pallet of colors that range from yellow and cream to gray, blue, and brown and of course all the shades of green.

Foliage can be equally diverse with variegated patterns of horizontal or vertical stripes. Feathery plumes or seed heads catch the morning and evening light, which adds a warm beauty. Plant them as a specimen to provide a striking contrast or create a focal point. Many grasses can be used as an accent or backdrop for other plants, while planting in mass creates an evocative space with repetition and rhythm. Punch up the drama with evergreen conifers or structural plants like yucca, cordyline or aloe.

What to Buy/ Plant
Explore grasses which may appeal to you such as Mexican feather, heavy metal switch grass, fountain, purple love, variegated ribbon, zebra, muhly, miscanthus (known as maiden grass), carex (also called sedge). Other plants that can create the same effect are flax, bamboo, rushes and reeds, dianella, iris and lilly .

Prune/ Propagate
Grasses usually do not require pruning during the growing season, but certain varieties will benefit from an occasional crew cut to promote new growth especially in early spring. Others will only require the removal of old flower stalks. As we find ourselves at the end of the growing season keep plants looking trim and tidy, cut water sprouts and suckers from trees, remember to use sterilized tools. Give roses a midsummer pruning. Take semi hardwood cuttings of shrubs whose stems are starting to get woody.

Fertilizing
In keeping with the increasing overall awareness of environmental issues, we must make choices in fertilizing practices that limit fertilizer misuse. Not all fertilizers are alike when it comes to environmental impact. So I’d like to suggest some alternatives. Look for organics containing a 100% mineral base, with no fillers, and ingredients like fish bone or blood meal, kelp, and earthworm castings. Use low number ratios such as a 3-9-6, or make your own nutrient-rich soil supplements by composting. An inch of compost added to your garden each year is often all you need to maintain healthy soil. Compost components consist of food wastes you would otherwise throw in the trash. Nutrient rich household items include coffee grounds (which provide nitrogen), and eggshells (which provide calcium). Remember to omit meats and fats. Most importantly, don’t wait until plants are in need; keep plants green with slow-release organic fertilizers that nourish as they decomposes. If your plants do lack good green leaf color, give them a quick boost of a liquid organic fertilizer.

Edibles
Plan your fall garden, start seeds in peat pots for transplanting later. Continue harvesting tomatoes, peppers and eggplant.

Pests
Continue to control weeds by cultivating and mulching. Use biological controls as much as possible. Insecticidal soaps or horticultural oils applied only where the pests are located. Check roses for pests and disease and check sago palms for scale. Look for large numbers of moths and chewed grass blades which are signs of sod webworms in lawns. Look for powdery mildew on dogwoods; spray with a fungicide.

For Fun
Plant an evening garden to enjoy at the end of the day. Night blooming flowers will bring beauty and a sweet scent through open windows this fall. Check out your local nursery for Night blooming jasmine, Cestrum nocturnum, sweet pepper bush, Clethra and Virginia sweetspire (known as Itea). Look for seeds of Moonflower ipomoea alba and Nicotiana alata. Plant in beds or containers in locations where they’ll be most enjoyed

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Garden Tips for July 2009
brought to you by Nancy George
Damayan Director and Expert Horticulturalist

July is a great time for shade gardening and enjoying the outdoors in the early morning and evening hours, but it's also a good time for planning ahead. Is your landscape as attractive and useful as you want it to be? Well designed shade gardens are a refreshing part of any landscape. Now you can see just where shade and comfort are needed. Perhaps you can see where a tree should be or you may have space for a romantic pergola or a vine covered arbor.

What to Buy / Plant

It's a good time to purchase crape myrtles which are in bloom now.
Plant shade trees and vines where shade is needed.
In full sun: pentas, purslane, lantana, buddleia, rudbeckia, plumbago, coleus, echinacea, angelonia.
In shaded areas: justicia, plectranthus (mona lavender), torenia, tibouchina, caladium, strobilanthes 'persian shield', gingers, alternanthera 'joseph’s coat', and ipomoea 'sweet potato', taro 'elephants ear.'

Prune/Propagate

Cut back hydrangeas after bloom; prune impatiens to prevent legginess.
Pinch off flower heads of coleus
Propagate bromeliads and orchids by dividing the offshoots.

Fertilize

Check plants for chlorosis, treat as neccessary.
Fertilize tropicals according to need.
Fertilize impatiens with and bedding color
Lack of dark green leaf color in gardenias despite adequate nitrogen may be from a lack of magnesium. In this case, spray leaves with a solution of 1 teaspoon Epsom salts to a pint of lukewarm water.

Edibles

Be sure to clean up harvested vegetable rows. Add amendments and fertilizer to the soil to prepare for Fall planting of winter crops.

Succession crops of heat loving vegetables such as peppers can still be planted now, but will have a shorter growing season.

Pests

With the moist, warm weather comes pest and disease. Leaf spots can develop, especially if rains are frequent and there is a lack of air circulation or plants are in the shade. Remember to water only the soil whenever possible making an effort to keep foliage dry and reduce the possibility of fungus.

Application of insecticides may be necessary if damage becomes extensive, but, if damage is not substantial, then don’t spray. You will kill beneficial predators, making further pest problems more likely. If you do spray, follow pesticide label directions and precautions carefully. Lawn pests such as Spittlebug in centipede lawns shows as yellow or reddish streaks down the grass blades. The blades eventually turn brown, and the whole lawn takes on a brownish cast. Chinch bug damage appears as straw-colored areas in full sun. Spray only the affected areas and ten to fifteen feet around them.

For Fun

Create a cooling atmosphere by designing an informal shade garden. Add the sight and sounds of splashing water, create charm and interest with rocks, meandering paths, stepping stones and driftwood. Accent with moss, ferns and other cool plants.

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Garden Tips for June 2009
brought to you by Nancy George
Damayan Director and Expert Horticulturalist

Consistently hot weather arrives this month and, as a result, things start happening fast in the garden. Plant growth and development, as well as associated pests, seem to happen overnight. There is plenty to do outside during June, and don't forget that patio projects are a great way to lead into summer.

What to Buy / Plant
Head out to the nursery to select some of the new perennials: ‘Tiki Torch’ or ‘Hot Papaya’ coneflower, Tangerine bulbine, ‘Kopper King’ or ‘Robert Fleming’ hibiscus, and ‘Jewels of Opar’ Add summer color by using plants that tolerate hot, humid weather. Using perennials such as: gaillardia, phlox, rudbeckia, shrimp plant, kalanchoe, tecoma sans, and any of the more than 600 species of Salvia will be sure to endure. Make color pop with annuals: celosia, coleus, zinnia, pentas, portulaca, purslane, and periwinkle for sun; and for shade torenia, begonia, and Impatiens. Also, June is a good time to plant lilies such as crinum, canna, blackberry or candy lily.

Prune/Propagate
Make chrysanthemums bushier and more productive by pruning in 1/2.
Flowering beds need maintenance in order to extend their flowering season. Remove weeds, fertilize, prune perennials, and dead head spent flowers.

Fertilize
Fertilizer is your garden’s friend. Don't neglect to feed your new babies; and as the shoots of your old friends start peeking up through the soil, give them a light dose of fertilizer too.
It’s a great time to feed begonias with an evenly balanced fertilizer such as 10-10-10. Feed ferns with a well diluted complete liquid fertilizer recommended for houseplants. Be sure that soil is thoroughly moist before applying. Feed water plants with aquatic 20-10-5.
Fertilize only when needed to maintain the health of your landscape No need to fertilize healthy plants. Beware of over-applying fertilizer, which can cause leaf burn. Always apply sufficient amounts of water before and after fertilizing, especially if rainfall is not expected within 8-12 hours, but do not apply if heavy rains are forecasted. Be sure to use fertilizers with 50 percent slow-release or insoluble nitrogen which is more likely to be used by plants and less likely to wash away.

Edibles
Tips on companion planting: Beans get along well with peas, corn and potatoes, but keep them away from "aromatic" vegetables such as leeks, garlic, onions and shallots. Carrots, tomatoes and lettuces also like each others company; just be sure not to mix them with dill. Sow directly into the ground seeds of corn, pumpkins, squash, beans and melons.

Pests
Weeds have already begun flowering and seeding; nip them in the bud now or prepare for extra work later. Be sure to mulch to reduce weeds and to retain moisture. If you use sprays to control weeds, spray early morning when there will be less wind.

Discourage fungus diseases in your garden by watering the ground and not the foliage. But do wash foliage occasionally to remove dust and insects. You can add a weak solution of liquid soap to a hose end sprayer.

For Fun
Summer is a great time to get your patio picture-perfect. Spruce it up with easy-to-build wall lattice or trellis for climbing plants. Containers can be moved around to create a variety of colorful seating arrangements, then dress nearby trees in strings of lights for evening entertaining.

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Garden Tips for May 2009
brought to you by Nancy George
Damayan Director and Expert Horticulturalist

Now that we're getting warmer weather many of you may be heading down to the beach house for Memorial Day. Remember to pick up salt tolerant plants to spruce up the landscape while there. Where ever you live, in town or on the coast, consider having a garden design expert come to your home to assist you. Doing it right can save both headaches and money. To all Moms, a Happy Mother's day! Most nurseries will be open Sunday, May 14th. With a quick stop at the local nursery after brunch, Mom can shop for the things she has always wanted!

What to Buy / Plant
Brunfelsia, known as yesterday-today-and-tomorrow, is at its peak this time of year, and prefers a bright, shaded location, as do Japanese Maples including the crimson green Sango-kaku or the more sun tolerant Bloodgood. Other shade lovers that are in bloom now are clematis vines and the much loved white, pink or blue hydrangeas. Colorful cannas, many species of salvia and coleus can take sun or shade. Other considerations: old fashioned and shrub Roses and double impatiens which look just like miniature roses. It's a great time to plant your water garden and bog plants including water lilies, sedges, iris, taro, corkscrew rush, and horsetail equisetum. Great salt tolerant selections include artemesia, sedum, lomanda (known as breeze grass), dianthus, juniper, day lilies, blue dune grass, rosa rugosa (the beach rose), and lowbush blueberry.

Prune / Propagate
In general, prune flowering plants that bloom once per year after they bloom, not before. Time to clean up and prune Azaleas. Leaves can stay where they fall, but be sure and remove all dead blossoms to prevent blossom blight. Cut out old or ugly branches and pinch back tips to promote bushiness. First, water plants deeply; then, using hedge shears remove all tip growth. This gives a solid blanket of flowers next year.

Fertilizing
A monthly application of Aluminum Sulfate will turn your white Hydrangeas blue, or your pink hydrangeas purple. Feed azaleas, gardenias and citrus with acid food. Follow up one week later with iron. Feed roses every four weeks with rose food including a systemic insecticide. Feed annual bedding plants consider using a water soluable fertilizer regularly throughout the summer to keep them at their peak.

Edibles
Veggie's and herbs including tomato, squash, basil, oregano, thyme, lavender, and mint are all in abundance. Fruit trees produce more fruit than they can mature. To avoid June drop, thin small fruit 3 inches apart, for larger fruit 6 inches. This will make your fruit develop larger and tastier, and avoid over weighted branches.

Pests
Continue to control pests and diseases. Discourage fungus diseases in your flower garden by watering the ground and not the foliage. Wash foliage occasionally, though, to remove dust, mites, and insects. You can add a weak solution of liquid soap to a hose end sprayer.

For Fun
Cover an old bowling ball with glued on pennies for a geometric cooper gazing ball. Don’t forget to plant your pumpkins now for fall harvesting.

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Garden Tips for April 2009
brought to you by Nancy George
Damayan Director and Expert Horticulturalist

Since the beginning of history, the garden has been celebrated with the concept that herbs have miraculous powers. There is a fascinating story in every culture, from simple people to philosophers that holds these beliefs and embraces the wisdom, that herbs help people in their daily lives. There are nearly as many ways to incorporate herbs into a garden, as there are herbs to choose from. Weather used for flavorings, teas, fragrances or medicines, most herbs are simple to grow, demanding little while giving a lot.

What to Buy / Plant

In addition to flower gardens, there are healing gardens and wholesome kitchen gardens. It’s a good idea to have a few herbs easily accessible to the kitchen door, so you can snip a few to add while cooking. A strawberry jar is perfect for this. Planting a different herb in each pocket keeps them controlled and available. We all know the benefits of aloe vera to sooth burns and stings, but cutting away each edge and the removing the green skin reveals a thick clear gel that has no taste when eaten; and is very cost effective in comparison to buying aloe vera juice. Collect several varieties of herbs such as: lemon verbena, pineapple sage, and lemon balm to make a refreshing iced beverage.

Uses

Place a bag of herbs in a warm bath to relax and enhance beauty: lavender, passionflower, mint, thyme, and rose petals are good choices. Sachets will sweeten linens. Lavender tucked into pillows encourages restfulness. Herbs can be used in almost way including hair products and skin care as well as herbal salves that are fun to make and helpful in arthritis and first aid treatments. Do a little research; there are countless books available that give useful information on how you can safely use the plants that you’ve gathered or grown.

Edibles

Until recently, herbs were the only medicines available. It is comforting to know that as we add herbs to enhance the flavor of food, we are promoting health at the same time. Garlic is said to be effective in the treatment of colds. Tea made from rose hips is high in vitamin C. Lemon grass tea is a natural sedative, drink in the evening to enjoy a good nights sleep. Simply cut a few stalks, wash and boil in water, remove grass, sweeten to taste.

Pests

Planting herbs as companion plants in your vegetable and flower garden is a time-honored way of deterring pests. Chrysanthemums repel many insects, coriander discourages aphids, lavender repels moths, basil deters flies and tansy dissuades ants.

For Fun

Some folklore about herbs include: carrying basil in your pocket to attract money. Stop to think about it, it's easy to see the role plants play to our well-being. Plants are highly symbolic. On a conscious level, they're cheerful, inviting and aesthetically pleasing to look at. They bring warmth and beauty to our spaces. Human beings cannot survive without them. On the subconscious level, they represent our connection to life, health and hope for the future. That's probably why you seldom see a plant-free wedding, holiday. Studies have shown that plants have a positive, measurable effect on the humans that interact with them. Just the mere sight of them decreases stress, increases productivity and puts people at ease. This is also why plants are often used in advertising and found in commercial settings like office buildings, hotels and restaurants.

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Garden Tips for March 2009
brought to you by Nancy George
Damayan Director and Expert Horticulturalist

March 20 is the first day of Spring and Gene Ellis, Jr. Day, but as far as we gardeners are concerned Spring has arrived and we are ready to dig in! March 15 is the official average last frost date. Be sure to watch the evening news and anticipate the possibility of late frosts. Once all danger has passed you can take your tender tropicals out from where you sheltered them. To remove frost damage wait until new growth resumes then cut back to it, so as not to remove more than necessary. Follow up with fertilizer and plenty water to hasten new growth.

What to Buy / Plant
Plant trees, shrubs, vines, and ground covers. Plant perennials in mid March, plant flower beds with Spring annuals such as alyssum, lobelia, geraniums, marigolds, nasturtium, holly hock, ageratum, foxglove, delphinium, gazania, gerber daisies, nemesia,and lamium.

Prune / Propagate
Deadhead annuals and perennials. Allow floppy leaves from bulbs to go brown before cutting. Tie them in a knot if you wish. Prune camellias after bloom. Pinch petunias when you plant them.

Fertilizing
Begin fertilizing trees, shrubs with 13–6-6, and flower beds with 3-9-6 slow release fertilizers. Always look for fertilizers which contain natural ingredients and no fillers to protect our wetlands. Treat blue hydrangeas with aluminum sulfate to prevent them from turning pink.

Edibles
Plant Summer vegetables such as green beans, corn, zucchini, squash, eggplants, peppers, and tomatoes.

Pests
Check sago palms for scale spray with insecticide if necessary. Watch for signs of larval damage, treat with diatomaceous earth.

For Fun
Plant Summer bulbs such as dahlias, acidanthera, orinthogalum dubium, calla lillies, asiatic lillies, gloriosa lillies and pineapple lillies. Continue to plant gladioli bulbs for continued bloom. Plant butterfly larval plants such as parsley, dill fennel and milk weed.

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Garden Tips for January 2009
brought to you by Nancy George
Damayan Director and Expert Horticulturalist

We are fortunate to live where winters are mild.  Therefore our gardening year can begin in January, The fact that it is one the coldest months, is what makes it one of the nicest times to work outdoors as the days are crisp and clear and working outdoors is pleasent. There are so many things to care for and January's tasks should not be put off.  The promise of a new year to a gardener is that this year, my garden will be better than ever.

What to Buy / Plant

Continue to add color by planting cool season annuals and perennials, thes include calendula, dusty miller, dianthus, delphiniums, iceland poppies, lobelia, nemesia, pansies, snapdragon, stock, and baby's breath.  Perennials include bulbine, diascia, artemesia, ajuga, georgia blue veronica, scabiosa, stokesia, heuchera, silver falls dichondra, verbena, lambs ear, and gloxinia "Bolivian Sunset."

Camellias and azaleas are best planted while in bloom, not only because you can see what colors you are adding to your garden but also because you can take advantage of the post-bloom growth spurt.  Plant them in a location that provides afternoon shade.

Prune / Propagate

Prune deciduous fruit trees before new buds have swelled.
Prune roses leaving the thick healthy canes and removing suckers.

Fertilizing

Citrus suffering from chlorosis will have light green leaves with dark green veins.  Treat with chelated iron combined with zinc.  Apply according to package directions or purchase a product for foliar applications and spray onto tree.

Feed cool season flowers with a slow release fertilizer. 

Edibles

Plant Peas, onions, asparagus, rhubarb, beets, carrots, cauliflower, brussel sprouts, endive, collards, broccoli, cabbage, spinach, mustard, turnips, and strawberries. Water well until established.

Pests

To prevent disease, and rid plants of overwintering insects, spray dormant sprays such as horticultural oil or lime sulfur on deciduous trees and roses.

Check citrus for pests, look for curled leaves, sooty mold, and various scales which attach themselves to trunks, twigs, and fruit.

For Fun

Most seed catalogs arrive in January.  Order now so you'll have seeds in time for spring planting.  Studying the catalogs can help beginners learn and experienced gardeners will find joy and temptation with rare items that may not be locally available.