LANDSCAPING : The summer garden buzzes with activity! Cut back spent perennial blooms from delphiniums and early flowering salvias, trimming stems to just above a healthy leaf node to encourage a potential second flush. / Mulch around dahlias and cannas with 2 inches of straw to retain soil moisture during hot days while suppressing weeds. / Stake tall flowering plants like hollyhocks and gladioli before they reach full height, using bamboo supports placed 4 inches from the stem base. / For sandy soils, work a handful of water-retaining gel crystals into the soil around newly planted perennials.
VEGETABLE PATCH : Summer squash and tomatoes are loving this fruit-favorable day! Remove lower yellowing leaves from indeterminate tomato plants to improve air circulation and reduce disease pressure. / Side-dress eggplants and peppers with 2 tablespoons of balanced organic fertilizer per plant, working it gently into the top inch of soil. / Harvest summer squash when fruits reach 6-8 inches long—any larger and they become seedy and less flavorful. / Pinch out the growing tips of cucumber vines once they reach the top of their supports to redirect energy into fruit production.
ORCHARD : Feel the weight of those developing fruits? The descending moon energy supports fruit development beautifully. Check apple and pear trees for codling moth damage, removing and disposing of any affected fruits showing entry holes. / Apply a summer fruit tree spray at half-strength during evening hours to control pests while protecting beneficial insects. / Prop up heavily-laden branches of plum trees using forked sticks padded with cloth to prevent breakage. / For container-grown blueberries, provide a deep watering until water flows freely from drainage holes, then allow soil to dry slightly before the next irrigation.