The Lavender Festival was large. That is the only way I can explain the amount of people, creative crafts, good music and food. Guests and locals alike enjoyed Bindseil Park while listening to good music and picnicing. This is very rewarding to all of the volunteers and for our hard work each week.

We, KBB, began designing and planting a new flower garden near the park area entrance. We used Blue Plumbago and periwinkle. The existing perennials are coming back and we are adding New Gold Lantana to the City Hall and new summer flowers in the pots, on the sidewalks, and along Pecan Street. We are feeding all blooming flowers with Rose Glow and add Medina Growin Green to the soil every two to three weeks. We use Super Bloom on the foliage at opposite times.

Trees, shrubs, and lawns need one inch of water each week. Hand water trees and shrubs that were planted this spring. Lawn irrigation alone will not be sufficient. Let the hose trickle slowly on the root zone to saturate the roots.

Prune perennials, annuals, and roses to remove spent blooms and promote more blooms. If larger shrubs need to be trimmed, don’t cut back severely at this time. Wait until the weather cools down. If you have had as many Oaks fall and break off as we have, it is necessary to paint each cut, large or small. This will help avoid Oak Wilt in the Red Oaks and Live Oaks.

Begin preparation for fall gardens for tomatoes, eggplant, and peppers. Pinch mums, coleus, Mexican bush sage, and blackberries to encourage branching. Watch for cholorisis in the lawn, shrubs, and trees. The leaves turn yellow with dark green veins. Add iron, sulphur, or Green Sand to the affected areas. Keep these products off masonry to prevent rust colored stains.

Have the cicadas been keeping you awake? They really are noisy, but they’re not damaging. Bumble-bee like insects, known as cicada killers, stay very close to the ground awaiting their prey. They are actually beneficial insects.

Mow lawns regularly so that you never remove more than one third of a blade any time you mow. Be careful in the sun, drink lots of water, and stay in the shade when possible. See you next month!