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Continue to monitor the water needs of plants. See notes at the beginning of June's Timely Tips. Strong vigorous plants are less attractive to pests and are more likely to survive attack. To minimize stress during dry periods, water your trees adequately. Mulching can also help moderate you tree's moisture level. Some trees that are more sensitive to drought-stress include; mountainash, Japanese maple, pagoda dogwood, paper birch and river birch along with lindens can defoliate due to drought stress. Deep watering during periods of extended drought will benefit your tree.

If you did not top-dress your shrub beds in May, it may be necessary now to help retain water. However, dry mulches often repel some water; if the soil is bone dry beneath, you will need to water the bed well after applying shredded bark mulch. The mulch will then slow down the loss of water from the soil.

During the hot, dry weather of July and August, spider mites can become a problem on several evergreens. Sucking the juice from needles, the foliage will begin to take on a rusty appearance. Before this happens, monitor susceptible evergreens, such as nest spruce and dwarf Alberta spruce, by tapping their branches over a piece of white paper. If small black, brown or red specks move around on the paper, your plant has mites. If caught early, simply dislodge the small spider mites with a forceful stream of water from a hose. Repeat every week for 3-4 weeks. If more damage has occurred, spraying with a miticide may be necessary.


A follow-up on yews may be necessary for pruning. See April's Timely Tips for more or to go to Pruning Instructions (see side bar). Remember to contact Johnson's Nursery to schedule you landscape pruning needs.

Shearing of hedges or formalized evergreens must be completed by now. If done later new growth may not harden off in time for winter.

Established lawns can go dormant for several weeks without harm. However, Do Not allow recently seeded or sodded lawns to go without water.

Turn your compost pile and add some water to speed decomposition.

Summer rains make easy work for pulling weeds. Thorough weeding requires getting the root of the weed removed. If Mother Nature provides the moisture to soften our soils, it is an opportunity to get some weeding done.