As you know they breed in as little as a thimble full of water. A cupped leaf can hold that much water or more. So do crevices in garden ornaments, creases in plastic bags, drain outlets from air conditioners and other un-thought-of locations in our yards. During daylight mosquitoes rest in shady dense vegetation, full of trees, shrubs and other plant material. Unfortunately, we cannot find every nook and cranny where mosquitoes hide and breed. In addition, new mosquitoes fly into our yards from as far as two to three miles away.
What to do, especially with West Nile virus winging its way closer to our back yards? A number of mosquito killing insecticides that are delivered through a hose end sprayer effectively control the pests hiding in lower branches of trees, shrubs and other vegetation. The range of insecticides runs from organic to chemical. Choose your poison and follow label instructions. Mosquitoes are more than a pest. They are a health hazard that needs to be kept in check.
Use mosquito dunks or mosquito quick kill granules in standing water to kill mosquito larvae in garden ponds, bird baths or any other vessel that contains still water. Dunks and granules contain the soil bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (Bti), which is not harmful to humans, waterfowl, pets or fish. As always, follow label instructions.
Lawns
August is the last time to apply fertilizer to your warm season grass until April 2013. If broadleaf weeds are a problem apply an herbicide. Apply preemergent in September. Read and follow all label instructions.
Sanitation
Dump standing water after irrigation and rain. Pull weeds – mosquitoes other insects hide in them. Clean out spent annuals and vegetable plants, fallen fruit and vegetables, ongoing leaf litter.
Crape myrtles
You can force another round of blooms from your crape myrtle by pruning off the seed heads. It is hard work on trees, but shrubs and dwarfs are worth the effort.
Hydrangeas
Unless you already know how to prune your hydrangeas without losing next year’s blooms, simply clip off dead flower heads. If hydrangeas need shaping, prune back only one third of each plant and note whether that part flowers next year. Some varieties do not flower for a couple of years after hard pruning.
Irises
There are two reasons irises flower poorly: too little sun and overcrowding. Check to see if taller foliage has grown to shade out their sun. Generally irises need to be divided every three to five years. As necessary divide and transplant bearded iris and throw out damaged rhizomes in late August through September.
Lantana
Plant lantana in the spring, not the fall. Fall planting does not allow enough time for roots to establish before the winter. Lantana is winter hardy once established.
Fall flowers
If you have not already cut back petunias, verbena, geraniums and other bloomers that thrive in cooler weather, do it now. Follow up with a blossom boosting fertilizer (high phosphorous – the middle number).
Fill in bare spots in the garden with asters, begonias, cosmos, impatiens, Knock-Out roses, marigolds, salvia and other good fall bloomers. For more flowers longer into fall keep deadheading.
Containers
Crotons and coleus add beautiful fall color to containers. Take crotons inside before the first frost and grow them as house plants during the winter. Take cuttings to propagate coleus.
Culinary herbs
Plant cilantro for harvesting in the cool weather when it thrives. Chives, lemongrass, oregano and rosemary are all hardy perennials. Parsley is a biennial.
Vegetables
It is not too late to plant some cool weather vegetables. You can still plant broccoli, collards, kale, lettuce, mustard, onion sets, radishes, snap beans, spinach, Swiss chard and turnips.
There is still ample time this year to enjoy your yard and gardens.
Speak Your Mind