General

 EXTREME heat-  damaged, shallow root systems cannot stand up to longest heat wave in 70 years
EXTREME high disease pressure- caused by high night temperatures, high humidity & moisture
EXTREME damaged root systems- waterlogged soils this spring pushed oxygen out of soil= root death
EXTREME compacted soils- heavy spring rains caused compaction to clay soils= difficulty getting water to roots
EXTREME crabgrass- spring pre-emergent herbicide application broken down by heavy rains & extreme heat

 With all this hot and humid weather outside, I like to keep my gardening to the indoors!  A windowsill herb garden in the kitchen still satisfies my green thumb and also is great to be able to mix herbs with all the fresh home grown produce of the summer.  Stick to herbs that stay short and compact growing habit like chives, basil, lavender, parsley, mint, thyme or rosemary.  Snip the plants often to encourage full and bushy growth.  Never cut off more than 1/3 of the plant when harvesting as not to bring the plant into shock.

With all the hot weather this week it is hard to imagine plants being waterlogged within their soil.  However, some home owners take this hot weather in mind and overcompensate watering their trees & shrubs.  Signs of waterlogged roots in plants can show up as leaf scorch or leaf thinning in deciduous plants and tip burn on the candles of evergreens and pines.  In small shrubs and many perennials, too much water will seem like not enough because the plant tends to wilt.

"Watering the grass and plants in the hot summer afternoons will kill the plants!"  Many homeowners live by this statement and arrange their whole schedule as not to be watering when the sun is out.  However, death of the plant can be a slight overstatement.  If that is the case, how do quick rainfalls not kill plant life?  However, watering the turf in the hot weather can cause an outbreak of fungus from the humidity.  Water droplets sitting on the leaf surfaces when watering plants and trees can cause sun burn spots.

Snake plants or commonly called "Mother-In-Law Tongue" plants are a popular variety of houseplants, for those with not so green thumbs.  A new specimen has come to the retail market with cylindrical leaves in a mohawk-like design.  It goes great with modern design plans.

 David Austin roses are a variety of English hybrids that bring back the original fragrance associated with roses.  Many hybrids and cross bred roses have lost this scent over reproduction time.  David Austin roses combine the scents with a double flowering bloom.  Set upon long stems, the cuttings make great bouquets.  They are hardy from zones 5 or 6, which will work great in a Kansas garden.

 June is national rose month.  Celebrate by planting one of the new generation of disease-resistant (aka. low maintenance) rose varieties.  Check back the next couple days for more info and advice on planting and growing roses.

 With the warmer temperatures moving in, don't forget to adjust your irrigation controller!  Make sure the settings are set to run 3 times a week.  10 minutes for spray heads and 20-30 minutes for rotors.
Make sure that the system is not watering on your mowing day!

Average number of miles fruits and vegetables travel in the U.S. to get to your plate= 1,600!!!

Plant trees around the house strategically on the south and west sides providing shade to the air conditioner unit.  This can save you about $250 a year on cooling and heating!