Ferrill's Foliage

AUGUST

BULBS TO PLANT: Caladiums, Colchicum, Cyclamen, Dahlia, Hemerocallis (daylilies), Louisiana Iris, Lycoris, Zephyranthes

SEEDS TO PLANT: Ageratum, Alyssum, Amaranthus, Balsam, Bluebell, Bluebonnets, Calendula, Candytuft, Coreopsis, Cornflower, Delphinium, Gerbera, Hollyhock, Lupin, Marigold, Naturtium, Pansy, Petunia, Snapdragon.

PLANTS TO SET: Acalypha, Ageratum, Ajuga, Aspidistra, Balsam, Begonia, Blue Daze, Boltonia, Carnation, Chrysanthemum, Cockscombs, Coleus, Gaillardia, Geranium, Marigold, Phlox, Portulaca, Salvia, Sedum, Shasta Daisy, Shrimp plant, Stokes Aster, Verbena, Vinca, Zinnia.

VEGETABLES: Start your fall garden between now and August with Eggplant, Peppers, Tomatoes, Cucumber, and Squash. Tip: When planting squash put a small hand full of 7 dust in hole to keep squash borer away. The late part of this month start your potatoes.

LAWNS - St. Augustine should be mowed to a 2" to help protect the roots and reduce stress. Avoid using w**d killer when the temperatures are above 85f.

Crepe Myrtles will continue to bloom if you remove faded blooms and seed pods. Keep a check for powdery mildew. Try watering in the morning to control this problem or control with triple action 20.

Keep azaleas and fruit trees well watered. Spring blooms are developing.

Fertilize fruiting vegetables weekly after first fruit has set for higher productivity. Feed mums every 2 - 3 weeks until buds appear, then weekly until buds show color. Gardenias can be fed with azalea - camellia food. Fertilize roses for fall blooms. Feed berries and fruit trees that show poor color and growth.

Prune photinias for red fall color. Thin camellia to one bloom per cluster for bigger flowers. Pinch mums for the last time. Remove dead and damaged wood from shrubs and trees. Blackberry canes which have born fruit need to be cut down to the ground. Then fertilize with a high phosphate fertilizer.

Continue w**ding and cultivating. Replenish mulch as needed. Mulch 2" - 3" deep will hold down w**ds and hold the moisture in the soil so mulch, mulch and mulch some more.

FLIES IN THE HOUSE? Try this; a zip lock baggie half full of water, tack it above doors or on the wall and no more flies. The flies see it and think it is a hornet nest and will stay away. This can be used anywhere including barns, kennels, or chicken coops. Nice and safe.

BLACK SPOT ON ROSES ? Try this mix 2 teaspoon of baking soda and a few drops of ivory soap with a gallon of water. Spray the whole bush. Reapply every 4 to 5 days until stops are gone.

Watering roses and crape myrtles in the morning will help prevent this problem all together.