Apply organic mulches as the soil warms. These will conserve moisture, discourage weeds, and enrich the soil as they decay.

Most houseplants brought outside prefer a bright spot shaded from afternoon sun. Check soil moisture daily during hot weather.

When using any gas powered equipment, be sure to allow the engine a few minutes to cool before refilling empty fuel tanks.

Try Something Different
For a really bold look in the garden this summer.....consider planting Ricinus communis, commonly known as Caster-Bean. Yes, this is the plant that gets 15' tall and has a spread of 15-20', and has large palmately lobed leaves to the size of 3' across. And yes, every part of the plant is poisonous to humans, cattle, sheep, pigs and chickens. So why plant this monster in the landscape? It has great foliage, form and color and an overall shape like nothing else in the garden. It'll be quite a topic of conversation also....just don't put it in a salad! They do germinate from seed quite easily so you still have time to plant a few.

Several cultivars are available:

"Borboniensis arboreus" - Red stems and glaucous stems
"Cambodgensis" - Dark foliage and stem color
"Sanguineus" - Red foliage
"Gibsonii" - Dwarf form

BEES, WASPS, HORNETS
Summer brings many stinging insects into our yards. These can be a menace especially to those people who are allergic to their stings.

Bumble bees are 1/2 to 1 inch long with black and yellow or black and orange body markings. These insects are not usually aggressive but will sting if their nest or nest entrance is disturbed. Nests are often built underground. Colonies are annual and only young fertilized queens overwinter. Nest inhabitants are killed by the autumn frosts.

Some wasps make nests out of mud or clay, while others make a circular paper-like nest with exposed nest cells that look like a honeycomb. Only fertilized queens hibernate over the winter in a protected area.

Yellow jackets are small yellow and black insects with a wasp-like waist who nest underground, under stones and in walls. These social insects continue to increase the size of their nest throughout the summer. They can be a real menace in picnic areas in late summer. Autumn frosts kill off the inhabitants, only the queens hibernate during the winter.

Hornets are closely related to yellow jackets. They are large insects with black and white markings, their large gray football shaped paper-like nests can be seen in bushes and trees. Autumn frosts will kill off nest inhabitants. Only the queen hibernates over the winter. These insects are sensitive to vibrations and will sting when the nest is disturbed. Fruit attracts them; keep all fruit picked up off the ground. Hornets can give a very nasty sting.

Effective control depends on species and nest location. If the nest is in the ground apply a dust formulation to the nest entrance. If the nest is in a tree, shrub or other above ground area apply a hornet-wasp aerosol spray that reaches 8 to 10 feet. All pesticides should be applied at night when insects are least active. Be sure you are fully covered and protected from stings when you apply.

GRASSCYCLING
Let those clippings lay! If you are bagging grass clippings, you may want to reconsider this practice. Here's why.

(1) Grass clippings contain lots of nitrogen. You may reduce the amount of fertilizer that you apply if grass clippings are returned to the soil.

(2) Grass clippings do not contribute to thatch build up. Grass clippings decompose quickly if the soil pH is between 6.0 and 7.0.

(3) The key to grass cycling is to mow no more than 1/3 of the turf leaf blades in any one mowing. (ex. when lawn reaches 3" cut to 2"). This practice may require more frequent mowing but eliminates the grass clipping disposal problem and is healthier for the turf.

(4) Of course, if the mowing operation results in piles of clippings they must be raked up. Use them as mulch around trees and shrubs or compost them.

So, keep your mower blades sharp, cut no lower than 1.5 inches, mow a little more frequently and you too will be into grasscycling.