Water Wisely
Water deeply and early in the day: 6-9 a.m. Evening watering promotes fungal growth. Much of mid-day overhead watering evaporates before it is absorbed.

Mulch
Maintain 3-6 inches of mulch, 3-4 inches from the base of tree flares, annuals, perennials and shrubs. Do not use fresh grass clippings or new wood chips around tender annual seedlings.

Spring Bulbs
Shear yellowing spring bulb leaves: daffodils, tulips and hyacinths. Divide and transplant. Water deeply to re-establish.

Peonies
To avoid root-rot and botrytis, keep the soil clear of mulch. Trim diseased stalks and leaves to the crown, then banish to the landfill. Swab pruning shears with rubbing alcohol after each cut. Lubricate at the end of the day.

Early Harvest
For sweet and tender baby vegetables, harvest well before maturity. Try bush beans, carrots, eggplant, bell peppers, squash blossoms and summer squash.

Herbs
Except for basil, clip culinary herbs in the morning just after the dew has dried. Prune lavender buds, not flowers, if you expect to dry them for sachets and bouquets, the same for roses.

Turf grass
Use a mulching mower with a sharp blade to a height of 3-4 inches.

Weeds
Whether in the garden or the lawn, stay ahead of weeds with daily hand-pulling, especially before they flower and set seed.

Summer is a good time to chemically treat dandelion, ground ivy, knotweed, lespedeza, plantain and spurges. Follow package directions explicitly. If the directions are too complicated or intimidating, contact the local extension agent for help.

However, best practice is to maintain a healthy lawn with no bare spots, where these invaders take root quickly. Plan to fertilize, aerate and over-seed in the fall.

Staking
Stake tender climbers before they extend their shoots. Gently train those with tendrils and tie lightly those who benefit from support.

Compost
Organic materials decompose rapidly in hot, moist weather. Pull and compost spent crops, weeds and pruned materials. To hasten decomposition, turn the compost pile and wet it to a wrung-out-sponge feel. Leave the pile with a depression in the center to catch rainwater.

Critter Repellants
Renew the odor du jour frequently: peppery, noxious odors for deer, cats and rabbits. Plant garlic among the roses, annuals and perennials; the garlic returns each year. Deer will need physical barriers as well—deer netting draped over their favorite greens or 8-foot fencing.

Disease & Pests
A tidy garden interrupts many insects’ normal lifecycle. Begin with good sanitation and plenty of air circulation from adequate spacing.

Remove diseased foliage immediately, for many insects overwinter in debris—clean or infected.

Reduce the stress of drought and disease with refreshed mulch and deep watering.

Blast away aphids and white flies with morning, water jets. Handpick Japanese beetles, and caterpillars like tomato hornworms and cabbageworms. Use a jar of soapy water as their final resting place, thence to the compost pile.

Monitor houseplants for sun-scorch, disease and pests at their summertime outdoor sites; the same for those still indoors and too delicate for summer’s heat and humidity. Except for African violets, treat them all to a weekly drench.

TIP OF THE WEEK
Instead of sprays and lotions use a hood of fine netting (found at camping suppliers) to protect your face and head from biting insects. Add light-colored clothing, another deterrent. Look before you reach. If it’s harmless, let it slither or fly away; if not, back off.