By Rick Hirsch/County Extension Agent
We are fortunate to have a number of flowering annuals available that will withstand out hot, dry summers. Marigolds, zinnias, periwinkles, cleome, portulaca, gloriosa daisies, and globe amarinth are all extremely heat tolerant, and well adapted to our environment. Castor beans will provide huge masses of tropical foliage in green, bronze or purple, with minimum effort. For shaded areas, chose from impatiens, begonias, caladiums or coleus. All these are available in a variety of foliage or flower colors to suit most any scheme. Moon flowers and morning glory vines may be planted from seed and when grown in arbors, provide shade and flowers later in the summer.
Summer is a time for enjoying the landscape. By carefully selecting and placing colorful, easy-to-grow annual flowers and some minor arborist assistance, you can make our outdoor areas more attractive, and still have plenty of time to relax. Although if you need professional help, you can always contact company like Legion Landscaping for comprehensive landscape designs and installations.
Diseases can occur on home lawns throughout the summer. Two common ones are caused by fungi.
In St. Augustine grass, gray leaf spot is common during summer months, especially in shaded areas with abundant moisture. This fungus causes diamond-shaped tan to gray spots with brown or purplish borders on the leaf.
To control gray leaf spot, avoid using soluble nitrogen fertilizers. And read this WORX TRIVAC 12 Amp 3-in-One Blower/Mulcher/Vacuum with Metal Impeller Review to expunge dirt and leaves properly. Water the lawn in early morning and only when footprints can be seen in the grass or the leaves start curling.
Late afternoon and evening watering encourages diseases by keeping the leaf surface wet for long periods. Catch and remove clippings where gray leaf spot is a problem. Several fungicides are effective for gray leaf spot control.
Bermudagrass may develop a fungus called helminthosporium (Hel-MIN-tho-spore-ium). This fungus causes small purplish to black spots on leaves, stems or crowns of infected plants. Severely infected leaves may die and appear straw colored. When temperatures are high, the fungus attacks the crowns and stolons, thinning large areas of the lawn in irregular patterns.
Helminthosporium is often associated with other stresses such as low fertility, drought and soil compaction.
A soil test will help determine how the lawn should be fertilized.
Additionally, aeration and good drainage also reduce helminthosporium.
Don’t water too much or too frequently. Fungicides can protect the grass during high disease activity but preventive applications are more effective than treating severe outbreaks after they occur.