Summer arrived right on schedule on June 21st and, after a cold start to the summer planting schedule, most people have completed their summer planting. July is the time to sit back and enjoy the results of the gardener's hard work. Annual color creates its own fireworks in July. The hanging baskets of wave petunias and calibrachoa have filled out and are starting to drape several inches below the bottom of the baskets. The morning glory vines are growing in magical ways and delighting us with their abundance of new lavender and purple blossoms daily. Marigolds in all the warm colors of yellows to oranges stand proudly erect in tidy rows and the geraniums add a freshness with their reds and pinks. There are many old favorites and many unusual annuals to enjoy in containers or to interplant amongst the perennials while waiting for them to bloom. Annuals, for continuous summer color, are also great to fill in around those early blooming perennials that have gone by already. July is also Pond Month. The Northern Nevada Pond Club will be hosting its annual pond tour on Saturday, July 10 with tickets on sale here at Greenhouse Garden Center.

Water lilies, or Nymphaea, to scientists, are considered by many to be the jewels of the pond. Not only are they beautiful to look at, but they also serve an important purpose in the pond, mainly in aiding its ecosystem. Water lilies spread across the water's surface, filling it with color and vibrancy all the while keeping the pond and the creatures in it safe and healthy.

Besides being pleasing to the eye, water lilies do a great deal to maintain the well-being of the ponds they inhabit. For one, they provide shade to keep the water temperature down during the hot summer months. By blocking out a lot of sunlight, the lilies help to keep the algae growth down. Their shade also gives shelter to any fish that may be in the pond, a respite from both the sun and any predators that may be lurking nearby. They also absorb nutrients in the water that would normally feed these undesirable green plants, keeping the water clear and clean-looking.
Click here to see our list of varieties.

Perhaps one of the most beautiful flowers around is the tuberous begonia. There are many varieties, from single or double flower, ruffled-petal flowers, to camellia- or carnation-form flowers. There are even pendulous forms perfect for hanging baskets.

Their colors are extremely vivid, ranging from reds and red-orange to orange, yellow, white and hot pink; there are even bi-colored varieties. The tuberous begonia is a highly versatile plant whose almost fluorescent flowers are wonderful in flowerbeds, patio containers, window boxes or even hanging baskets.

Tuberous begonias will bloom for you all summer long and into early fall. They will thrive in shadier areas where few other flowers with long bloom times and showy flowers will even grow.

Although they are not frost hardy, they can be pulled out of the ground as they start to go dormant in fall, then cleaned off and stored in a cool, dry location over winter and replanted in spring after any danger of frost is gone. Handled correctly, they can provide years of beauty in the garden.

They should be planted in soil that maintains moisture, but also drains (no standing water). If you plant into the ground, you may need to amend first. For best results in containers, be sure to plant using a high-quality potting soil.

These begonias like indirect light or dappled shade locations and need to be kept moist with regular watering. Please take care not to let them dry out. To maintain their vibrant blooms, feed regularly with Gardner & Bloome - Bud and Bloom OMRI certified flower fertilizer.

We have spectacular varieties available right now, just waiting for a home in your garden. Visit us soon for the best selection.

We're doing everything to keep ourselves hydrated. Our garden plants are occasionally needing that extra watering, too. But here are a couple of plants that won't. First is the Joshua Tree, in the Yucca (Yucca brevifolia) family and second the Yucca (Yucca filamentosa), itself. Both are drought resistant ,which means these plants have developed strategies to withstand long periods with little or no water, the plants have relatively low water requirements.

The Joshua Tree, largest of the yuccas, grows only in the Mojave Desert, from 2,000 to 6,000 foot elevations. Natural stands grow nowhere else in the world. They like dry soils on plains or slopes, often growing in groves. Their bell-shaped blooms, borne in clusters, are creamy-white. The trees bloom in spring but not all will bloom annually. The fruit is green-brown and somewhat fleshy. It matures in late spring and drops to the ground to reveal many flat seeds.

Joshua Tree relies on the Yucca Moth, also called the Pronuba Moth, to pollinate. Although they can grow new plants from the roots, new stands of Joshua can start only from pollinated seeds. Joshua trees can grow 15-40 feet and 1-3 feet in diameter. Joshua Trees in the nursery were grown in Cochise County, Arizona and can be purchased from us with 1 "head" or multiple "arms". Grow Joshua Tree as a specimen plant in a xeriscape garden, with other yuccas, hesperaloe, apache plume, sumac and other drought tolerant, drought resistant plants.

A drought resistant, bold, architectural focal point. Evergreen, broad, sword-shaped leaves. Curled filaments along leaves give the plant its species name. Plants grow to 2 feet wide and nearly as tall. Branched clusters of nodding, creamy-white bells open in mid-summer on stems that reach 6 feet tall. Great accent plant in containers. Yuccas prefer full sun. Use in mixed gardens and naturalized areas. Excellent in rock gardens.

Here are some varieties worth growing:

Adam's Needle :
Dark green leaves that form basal rosettes.

Color Guard :
Central stripes of bright yellow against a pale-green edge. Many of the leaves sport a pink to rose tinge fall to spring.

Bright Edge :
Green centers with gold leaf margins.

Golden Sword :
Yellow with dark green edge. Not as upright as other yuccas, its leaf tips droop with age.

1. Fertilize the garden again. Vegetable plants and summer annuals thrive on regular fertilizer applications because they grow so much in one season. Try the Dr. Earth Life.It can be broadcast over the plant material and does not need to be worked into the soil. Just water it in after it has been applied.
2. Fungus is in full swing on growing plants. For lawn fungus use Bayer Fungus Control for lawns. For roses, junipers, pines, spruce, bee balm and summer phlox spray fungicide once a week for 3 weeks and use a different fungicide at least one time. We recommend Phyton27 and Daconil. Don't forget to use a sticker/spreader, such as Master Nursery Spray Grip.
3. Spray Sevin on the elm trees to get the second hatch of elm leaf beetles.
4. Tomatoes will crack due to uneven moisture levels in the soil. Water your tomatoes in the morning or after dark. Insure that the soil has organic matter working initially to help combat dryness and promote root growth. Uneven moisture may also contribute to blossom end rot. Add gypsum to the soil or spray your tomato and pepper plants with Foli-Cal.
5. Check your cherry and pear trees for a small green slug with a black head. Look on the surface of the leaves. This leaf slug pearsylla is easily controlled with Master Nursery Natures Pest Fighter. Spray on the 4th and again on the 15th.
6. Net your cherry, peach, apricot, and plum trees now so the birds don't get all the fruit! Try scare tape to deter the birds. Thin the fruit on the apples, peaches, and pears so that there is a palm's distance between each fruit.
7. Hose down evergreens at least once a month with a strong stream of water to control spider mites.
8. Check your drip system each emitter! Running your drip system once a week for 6 to 8 hours on established plants usually works the best. If runoff is occurring, reduce the size of the emitter or spread them out further along the line. Never plug up an emitter. Plants have roots where drippers are and if you move the water, then those feeder roots die. Annual color should be watered 2 or 3 times a week if exposed to a lot of late afternoon sun and wind. Too frequent watering creates weak, shallow roots and generally smaller plants. Plants in pots may need water every day or even twice a day in the hot windy spots. The addition of a soil polymer, like Soil Moist, will lengthen the time between waterings when applied to the soil for at least 4 weeks. This works great on houseplants also. If you are going on a trip, this could be very useful in keeping your plants alive.
9. Refresh the Barley Bale in your pond to keep string algae away or treat weekly with Algaefix or all-natural AK.
10. Control grassy weeds in the flower beds and around roses and other shrubs with Grass Getter. It won't hurt the broadleaf plants but will kill all the grassy weeds. This product is designed to be used with a sticker/spreader for best results.

If you have plants that suddenly keel over in the middle of the night, you might have cutworms. Closer inspection will usually reveal that the main stem has been severed from the roots.

The adult cutworms are night-flying moths that lay eggs on grass tips or on the soil next to lawn or plant stems in the fall. In the spring, the larvae emerge and begin developing, feeding on leaves, buds and soft plant stems as they mature. They get their name from their habit of "cutting" off a seedling at ground level by chewing through the stem. There are a number of species involved, so identification is most easily done by identifying the damage. Most cutworms will roll up in a ball if disturbed.

Natural remedies include pouring a ring of molasses around the plants, and placing foil or cardboard collars around your plants. Collars should penetrate at least an inch down and up several inches. Also helpful are beneficial nematodes or a pesticide.

The major reason lavender plants are so prized is that their flowers keep their fragrance when dried. Besides being beautiful and aromatic, lavender flowers are also edible. They can be used as a seasoning, added to salads, baked into cookies and brewed into tea. They can also be candied and used as a cake decoration.

For best drying results, harvest the flowers as the buds first begin to open. In general, wait until any rain or dew has dried from the plants. Harvest midday when the heat brings the most fragrance out of the flowers. Hang in small bunches upside down in a warm, dry spot with good air circulation and out of direct light.

Use rubber bands to tie the stems together for drying because they will contract along with the drying stems. If you wish to remove the flower buds from the stems for potpourri after drying, place the bound bundles inside a pillow case. Then roll it up and gently press and roll it on a hard surface--as if it were a rolling pin. (You can throw away the stems or take them camping and place on a campfire to repel mosquitoes.) Then scoop out the flower buds and place in sachets or potpourri dishes.

How often should I water the plants in the ground in my garden?

Answer:
The simple answer would be however often it takes to keep your soil moist but not wet.

As a rule, the hotter it gets, the more you will have to water. In the cooler months, you only water between periods of extended dry weather or high wind, which can also stress or dry a plant out.

When it is hot, increase the length of time you water your plants, not the frequency of watering. Most plants need to be watered at least twice a week; new plants that have yet to be established should be checked every other day. Remember that checking does not necessarily mean watering! We recommend that the top couple of inches of ground dry out between waterings.

Using drip irrigation is the most effective method. It is also important to group plants with similar watering needs together.

If a plant is too dry, the foliage will have a wilted appearance or begin to burn on the outside leaf tips.

If a plant is too wet, it will lose its luster and quickly drop faded leaves, starting from the inside of the plant and working its way to the leaf tips.

Make sure not to use soft water on any plants. The salt in the water can burn or kill plants. Fluoridated water is fine, because your plants will look better when they smile. We have several liquid fertilizers which can be added to the drip systems as well as kelp and liquid iron.