07/06/2018
Happy July -here are some great tips for your yard this month. Thanks to the Purdue Agriculture News Columns
Keep newly established plants watered during dry weather. Allow water to pe*****te deeply into soil rather than sprinkling frequently and lightly.
Apply mulch around young plants to help conserve soil moisture and control weeds.
Do not plant bare-root or ball-and-burlap stock at this time of year. Container-grown plants still may be planted, but only if you can keep them well watered.
Continue a fruit tree spray program to keep diseases and insects under control.
Remove water sprouts (sprouts from the trunk) and suckers (sprouts from the roots) from fruit trees.
For those fortunate growers who have a good crop this year, prop up fruit tree branches that are heavily loaded with fruit.
Pinch off faded rose blossoms. Continue rose spray program to control insects and diseases.
Many Indiana trees are plagued by "lawnmower blight." Be careful to avoid nicking tree trunks while mowing.
When watering lawns, apply 1 to 1.5 inches of water in a single application per week. Frequent, light sprinklings will encourage roots to stay shallow, making them more susceptible to drought.
Bluegrass is a cool-season plant and is under great stress during hot, dry summers. If water is not applied, the bluegrass will become dormant and will turn brown, until more favorable conditions arrive in autumn. For extreme dry conditions, rescue watering is required to keep the plants alive, while still dormant. Apply one-half inch of water every 2-4 weeks.
Mow grass one-half inch higher than usual during the dry, summer months to help conserve soil moisture. Do not mow when the lawn is under severe drought stress.
Don't remove clippings from the lawn unless grass is excessively tall or weedy. Clippings return some nutrients to the soil and do not add to thatch buildup.