Fire blight caused this pear blossom and terminal to suddenly wilt, blacken and die. Prune out infected growth. (Photo: UC IPM)

Tasks

• Check sprinklers and adjust timers weekly if necessary.
• Pre-irrigate to soften the ground for tilling in preparation for fall gardens.
• When the lawn needs mowing, mow cool-season grasses, such as tall fescue, to 3 inches and bermudagrass to 1 inch. Mowing shorter than these levels will encourage weeds and a shallow, less-drought-tolerant root structure.

Pruning

• Prune apricot, oleander and olive trees during dry weather to reduce future disease problems.

Fertilizing

• Cut back on fertilizer when water is limited and landscape plants remain in drought survival mode.

Planting

• Avoid planting annuals and perennials unless it is absolutely necessary.
• Bulbs, corms, tubers: autumn crocus.
• A few winter vegetables may be planted from seed. Consult the California Garden Web for more information.

Enjoy now

• Annuals and perennials: fibrous begonia (Begonia semperflorens), vinca (Catharanthus), cockscomb (Celosia), morning glory (Convolvulus tricolor).
• Bulbs, corms, tubers: dahlia.
• Trees, shrubs, vines: trumpet vine (Campsis), hydrangea, morning glory (Ipomoea).
• Fruits and vegetables: eggplant, fig, garlic, grapes, onion.

Things to ponder

• Fire blight infections are best pruned out in winter when the disease is not active. However, if the infection is spreading rapidly, prune out the infected growth as soon as it appears.
• Drought tip: Preserve the largest climate appropriate plants in the landscape. Mature trees and large shrubs may take many years or even decades to replace, while groundcovers, lawns, flower beds and vegetable gardens can be re-established in a season or two.

During the hot months, enjoy the garden in the morning with a cold drink. (Photo: Pixabay)

Tasks

• Protect developing tree fruit from birds and squirrels by placing netting over trees.
• Continue deep watering of fruit trees and citrus to insure a good fruit crop.
• Tie and train climbing plants, including those in the vegetable garden.
• Apply pesticides only when daytime temperatures do not exceed 95°F to prevent injury to foliage. Protect neighboring plants with a cardboard shield.

Pruning

• Deadhead annuals and perennials to encourage new growth and blooms.
• Divide iris every two to four years and save new rhizomes to replant in late summer.

Fertilizing

• Lightly fertilize actively growing plants.
• Give special attention to container plants.

Planting

• Summer heat can be truly formidable in the San Joaquin Valley.  Delay unnecessary planting until cooler weather.
• Bulbs, corms, tubers: naked lady (Amaryllis belladonna).

Enjoy now

• Annuals and perennials: lily of the Nile (Agapanthus), floss flower (Ageratum), amaranthus, aster, crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia).
• Bulbs, corms, tubers: naked lady (Amaryllis belladonna), canna.
• Fruits and vegetables: apricots, beans, blackberries, corn, cucumber, peaches.

Things to ponder

• The San Joaquin Valley is largely made up of zones 8 and 9. Consider this when selecting plants for your garden.
• Permeable hardscapes allow water from irrigation or rainfall to stay in place in the landscape, rather than running off into gutters and storm drains. Examples include pavers and bricks without mortar or grout, decks, crushed rock or gravel.

Many vegetable and ornamental plants are susceptible to dodder, a parasitic weed that grows as twining threadlike stems over their hosts. If you have dodder, find a link below to UC IPM guidelines for control. (Photo: UC IPM)

Tasks

• Water camellias regularly to avoid bud drop during bloom season.
• If you have nematode problems in your vegetable garden, summer is the time to solarize your soil.
• Rinse dust off foliage, especially the underside of leaves, to discourage spider mites.
• Wash white flies off plants with insecticidal soap.

Pruning

• Cut spent canes of caneberries to the ground after harvest. Attach new canes to the trellis for next year's crop.

Fertilizing

• Apply high potassium fertilizer once fruit starts to form on pepper, cucumber, sunflower and tomato plants.

Planting

• A few winter vegetables may be planted by seed this month. Consult the California Garden Web (https://cagardenweb.ucanr.edu/) for more information.
• If not already done, pumpkins may be planted in July.

Enjoy now

• Annuals and perennials: Russian sage (Perovskia), annual phlox (Phlox drummondii), moss rose (Portulaca), gloriosa daisy (Rudbeckia), marigold (Tagetes), zinnia.
• Bulbs, corms, tubers: daylily (Hemerocallis), tiger lily (Tigridia).
• Trees, shrubs, vines: lantana, oleander (Nerium).
• Fruits and vegetables: peaches, plum, tomatoes, zucchini.

Things to ponder:

• Rebuild water basins around deep-rooted permanent plants; water deeply and less frequently.
• Watch for the bright orange twining stems of the parasitic plant dodder. Remove any affected plants.

Carpenteria californica is a beautiful flowering evergreen shrub native to the Sierra Nevada foothills. It does well planted in a shady area on the Valley floor. (Photo: Wikimedia Commons)

Tasks

• Use Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) to control petunia bud worms and tomato horn worms.
• Watch for pests and treat if necessary.
• Be sure lawns are getting enough water.
• Consider moving a plant if it does not thrive where it is planted.

Pruning

• Prune apricot, oleander and olive trees at least six weeks before the onset of fall rains to minimize fungus infection of pruning wounds.

Fertilizing

• Fertilize almond, apple, peach and nectarine trees.

Planting

• Resist the temptation to plant more plants in the garden, as they are not likely to survive the summer heat.
• A few winter vegetables may be planted from seed this month. Consult the California Garden Web for more information.

Enjoy now

• Annuals and perennials: sunflower (Helianthus), strawflower (Helichrysum), impatiens, annual mallow (Lavatera).
• Bulbs, corms, tubers: gayfeather (Liatris), lily (Lilium asiatic hybrid).
• Trees, shrubs, vines: California wild lilac (Ceanothus), crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia).
• Fruits and vegetables: nectarine, okra, peach, pepper.

Things to ponder

• Check irrigation timers for compliance with the current watering schedule. Replace broken, leaking or misaligned sprinklers to eliminate overspray onto sidewalks and driveways.
• Mulch will help protect plants from harsh sun and drying winds.