July Landscape To-Dos

: Determine the cause of any lawn problems before taking action. If an insect is the culprit, treat only the affected area. Rule out disease or sprinkler malfunction. See Your Florida Lawn: http://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/yourfloridalawn/ Fertilizer Bans: Certain municipalities in north Florida prohibit the application of fertilizer to lawns and/or landscape plants during the summer rainy season (June–September). See if such an ordinance exists in your area. Vegetable garden: Use summer heat to solarize garden soil for fall planting. It takes 4–6 weeks to kill weeds, disease, and nematodes, so start now. See Soil Solarization: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/topic_soil_solarization Azaleas: Flower beds have formed. Prune no later than mid-July to protect next spring’s bloom. See Azalea: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/topic_azalea Irrigation: Install an inexpensive rain shutoff device to conserve water and save money. If one is already installed, check that it is operating properly. See Landscape Irrigation: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/topic_landscape_irrigation Trees: Prepare for hurricane season by checking trees for damaged or weak branches and pruning if needed. Hire an ISA-certified arborist. See International Society of Arboriculture: http://isa-arbor.com/ and Pruning Landscape Trees and Shrubs: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/topic_tree_pruning Pests on ornamental plants: Inspect for caterpillars on trees and shrubs. Large trees can normally withstand caterpillar feeding, but specimen shrubs may need treatment if damage is extensive. See Landscape Pest Management: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/topic_landscape_pests Peach and nectarine trees: Consider planting one of the many new peach and nectarine cultivars that grow well in North Florida. Newly planted trees should be fertilized now. Apply 1/2 lb. per tree of 8-8-8 fertilizer. See Temperate Fruit for the Home Landscape: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/topic_home_temperate_fruit