KATHY’S HOME & GARDEN TIPS – MID-SUMMER LAWN AND GARDEN TIPS
By now you may have started to harvest early crops. I've already had some snap peas - a few minutes in the microwave, fresh and delicious.
At planting time we add fertilizer or use garden soil with fertilizer included. It's now time to fertilize the garden again if you have not done so because the food we added at planting time has been used. I use Miracle Grow myself, but there are many on the market. Follow label directions, sprinkle on the leaves as well as the soil. This is called foliar feeding and is great for outside plants.
All your evergreens, trees and shrubs need food this time of year. They require a higher acid fertilizer. I recommend Miracid by Miracle Grow. Foliar feed these plants also. The evergreens should get this feeding throughout the summer about every three weeks, stopping the second week in September. We don't want to encourage too much new growth late in the year that might have a hard time making it through the winter.
After our wet, cool spring in the Chicago area we have had a dry spell. Make sure lawn and garden are getting sufficient water. Remember the one inch rule - one inch of water per week through rain or watering. Use a can placed on the lawn or in the garden to measure. Pay special attention under trees because even if we get a good soaking rain these areas often remain somewhat dry.
Keep an eye on all the landscape throughout the summer. Prune trees as needed. Trim off dead branches. Keep bushes trimmed. Weed that garden. Not to mention, it's great exercise and is also good for reliving that stress we all have in our working life. With a little work and feeding your lawn and garden will flourish this summer.
Happy Gardening!
KATHLEEN WEAVER-ZECH & DEAN'S TEAM CHICAGO
