This drought has had a terrible effect on our trees, crops, and yards. The only good thing that I have discovered is which plants can withstand the scorching heat. Some of the perennials that have worked for me are: Four o’clocks, Turks cap, Ruella (Mexican petunias – purple, white, and pink), salvias, most species, Bouganville, moss rose, purslane, Craigs blue daze, Blue Plumbage and Copper Canyon daisy. There are several more but these are blooming at my place.

August is the month to stop pinching asters and mums. Thin and replant Iris; move to another sunny location or pass them along to friends. Add a layer of compost to your garden and flower beds. Set out transplants of tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants; provide afternoon shade. Plant green beans, snap beans and peas, cucumber, squash, and cantaloupe. About mid-month, plant seed potatoes.

Apply the last spray for pecan trees to protect against insects and disease. If you need to prune trees and shrubs, the heat will be too stressful now. Wait until winter or early spring. I would only trim out dead and broken limbs. If you are trimming oaks, continue to paint the cuts. This is the time of year that the beetles aren’t moving around to the fungus spores, but I wouldn’t want to take a chance, especially with this stressful weather. Continue to add several inches of mulch around the trees, garden, and shrubs. Be careful to keep the mulch from covering the stems and trunks of trees and other plants.

Spider Mites are destroying tomatoes, flowers, and shrubs. Spray every other week with a seaweed spray. This will help control them.

In the last article I mentioned using carpet pieces as mulch. Well, I tried it and it didn’t work for me. Maybe it was the wrong kind. It seemed more like it wicked out the moisture from the ground around the plants. It might work for you.

Watch the heat and drink plenty of water.