Two in the morning. Dogs are going crazy. Coyotes aren’t howling, and bobcats aren’t screaming. But the dogs are barking. Next morning, I saw why. Hibiscus and rock roses really are deer candy. So, lesson learned: Air conditioners do not protect plants, even those growing close to the house. The good news is the trees and bushes were in containers. Fenced backyard it is.
[image id="23316" title="Luedecke" linkto="file" ] Bill Luedecke and daughter Martelle offer advice to Highland Lakes gardeners.Planting in all types of containers is fun. I used old metal milk containers for the roses. Fill the container with sticks, insert baby rose bush, add soil. As time progresses, the sticks will break down and add nutrients to your soil. Do make sure, though, that whatever container you choose does NOT hold water. You do want your container to leak so your plants don’t get root rot.
ROSES
Roses like high levels of fertility, especially nitrogen. Thus, they need to be fertilized in March and June and lightly in late August. Base your selection of fertilizer analysis on the results of a soil test. For June feeding, use fertilizers in which at least half of the nitrogen is in the slow-release or slowly available form. In late August, apply fertilizer in which the nitrogen is readily available.
JUNE GARDEN DUTIES
[image id="26684" title="Peaches and blackberries" linkto="file" ] Summer means fresh peaches and blackberries.There are so many wonderful events in June. It is the beginning of the Fredericksburg peach harvest, and the next maturing peaches will be ready soon. Fresh peach cobbler is one of our favorites. The berries are already in abundance and are being sold by local growers. Blackberries in yogurt is absolutely delicious as is a handful on top of your favorite cereal. All the farmers markets are in full swing and provide all of us an opportunity to partake of both new and old type vegetables.
• It is time to fertilize our vegetables. A good side dressing of nitrogen is necessary. To accomplish this, we will use fish emulsion, seaweed extracts, and our ever-dependable compost tea (liquid humate). (If you are allergic to seafood, skip the fish emulsion.)
Seaweed is an excellent source of potassium and 60 trace elements. Its job is to assist the plants in withstanding our summer heat and drought stress. Plus, it also increases insect- and disease-resistance.
The compost tea promotes healthy root growth and reduces or eliminates the need for chemical fertilizers. In addition, it contains beneficial microorganisms that protect our plants from disease and pests. This application will give our plants the boost they need at this time.
• Build up your soil with a seaweed-based application such as Medina Plus. This product and others like it feed the essential microbes and organisms that feed your plants. The soil is the basic ingredient of all gardening; without healthy soil, the best production cannot take place.
• Pinch back (dead head) blooms — chrysanthemums, Mexican marigold mint, marigold, salvias, and other late summer- and fall-blooming annuals — to prevent the necessity for staking.
• Fertilize those roses every four to six weeks. Check with your local nursery about organic fertilizers.
[image id="26685" title="Summer grass mowing" linkto="file" ] Cut your lawns higher to promote deeper grass roots.• Our lawns are growing nicely and rapidly. This is the time of year we want to promote deeper roots for our grasses. The way we do that is by cutting our lawns higher.
John Dromgoole suggests we cut Bermuda grass 1 inch, Buffalo grass 2½ inches, St. Augustine 3 inches, and Zoysia 1 inch. The higher the grass blades are cut, the deeper the roots grow. The deeper the roots, the healthier the grass all summer. Deep roots give the grass the opportunity to search farther for nutrients and water when the summer gets hotter. Keep in mind that you never want to cut more than a third of the blade in one cutting.
Keep your souls and soles in your garden!
Remember the True Master Gardener: Jesus said, “I am the vine; my Father is the Gardener.” John 15:1
Contact Bill Luedecke at The Luedecke Group Realtors at (512) 577-1463 or by email at bill@texasland.net. Contact Martelle Luedecke at (512) 769-3179 or luedeckephotography@gmail.com.