Take a stroll through your garden with a morning cup of coffee or tea.

There are many varieties of ornamental grasses that can be used as a drought-tolerant alternative to turfgrass. This display is at the Clovis Botanical Garden. (Photo: Jeannette Warnert)

• Collect ripened seeds of favorites and store for next year.
• Start planning for fall planting. Select plants that are resistant to common diseases and insect pests and choose an appropriate site for each one.
• Stake tall or top-heavy plants such as dahlias and lilies.

Pruning

• While cutting and deadheading roses, prune lightly to shape bushes and encourage fall bloom.
• Prune apricot, oleander and olive trees now to avoid future disease problems.

Fertilizing

• Apply a complete fertilizer to warm season lawns such as Bermuda and zoysia at the rate of 1 pound of actual nitrogen per 1000 square feet of lawn.

Planting

• Be patient. Planting season starts next month - anything planted in August is not likely to survive through September.

Enjoy now

• Annuals and perennials: yarrow (Achillea), floss flower (Ageratum), aster.
• Bulbs, corms, tubers: Autumn crocus.
• Trees, shrubs, vines: abelia, bluebeard (Caryopteris) smoke tree (Cotinus)
• Fruits and vegetables: apple, beans, bell peppers, nectarines, summer herbs.

Things to ponder

• If you do not use your lawn area, consider replacing it with a drought-tolerant planting area or vegetable garden.
• Potted plants benefit from mulch to reduce evaporation and suppress weeds.

Drought tip

• As summer begins to wind down, adjust irrigation timers to reflect fall's shorter days and cooler temperatures.