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KSB GARDENING NEWS

FROM JAMES MILES

With the heat of the summer settling in, it can be difficult to find the motivation to perform gardening/landscaping activities. However, this is also the time that a lot of plants are in full bloom and attracting both pest and beneficial insects. The majority of the beneficial insects are pollinators. If you walk or sit in your landscape in the morn- ing you will see the peak number of pollina- tors visiting your plants. Throughout the day you will see wasps, assassin bugs, and the like. In the late evening, you can see more assassin bugs and spiders. It is fasci- nating to watch how quickly they develop after hatching and how they set up territo- ries. You can usually find them in the same landscape area every day. I highly recom- mend you sit and observe what goes on in your landscape at different times during the day. As much as I’d like not to have to think about hurricanes, the reality is that we must prepare for them. You can find lists of needed supplies for you, your family, and your home from various sources. What can or should we do for our landscapes? When planting trees and shrubs, planting them in groups will allow their roots to become intertwined resulting in a more storm-resistant planting. We can also prune to a more open canopy which will allow more wind to blow through resulting in reduced blowover and/or limb breakage. Newly planted trees and shrubs should be stabilized with staking to prevent blowover. Recently I read several articles about the benefits of house plants. Their air quality benefits are the most commonly known by most people. But there are more. They enhance air quality by absorbing toxins & producing oxygen, increase humidity, reduce noise levels, and create a more vis- ually appealing and calming environment. Not to mention the feelings you get from taking care of them and the beauty they bring to your space. Here are some com- mon fairly easy-to-grow plants to consider: Spider plant, Peace Lily, Rubber Plant, Snake Plant, Elephant Ears, various succu- lents & cacti, Ferns, Pothos & philoden- dron, English Ivy, and various herbs. Each of the plants and plant groups listed above has different light, soil, and watering requirements. For a successful experience choose your plant based on where you intend to put it and how much the plant needs fit into your schedule or lifestyle. In the vegetable garden. At this point in the summer squash, cucumbers, and toma- toes have pretty much played out. Some heat-tolerant and cherry tomatoes are still holding on but for the most part, the heat is taking its toll on them. With other vegeta- bles, you have to scout regularly for insect pests. The insect population is continuing to increase resulting in more feeding dam- age to your plants. Read the label of the insecticide you intend to use carefully. There have been many changes made to products that can affect their effectiveness and injure your plants. READ THE LABEL! Enjoy the outdoors!