Stay cool by tending plants inside the house this week. (Photo: Pexels)

Tasks

• Water citrus on a regular schedule to maintain even soil moisture. Continuously wet soil in the upper few inches risks root rot.
• Renew mulch, 3 to 4 inches deep, to help retain soil moisture.
• Drain standing water. Water in even the very smallest container, can be a breeding ground for mosquitoes.

Pruning

• Cut back selected annuals and perennials to encourage growth and rebloom: alyssum, dianthus, coreopsis, million bells (Callibrachoa), catmint (Nepeta), and penstemon.
• Remove tendrils and vigorous shoots from wisteria.
• Prune bougainvillea to promote better flowering.

Planting

• Avoid planting annuals and perennials unless it is absolutely necessary.
• Start seeds of early spring annuals for later transplanting to your garden. Ideally work in an area that does not get late afternoon sun.

Enjoy now

• Annuals and perennials: coreopsis, blanket flower (Gaillardia), globe amaranth (Gomphrena), sunflower (Helianthus), strawflower (Helichrysum), day lily (Hemerocallis).
• Bulbs, corms, tubers: gladiolus.
• Trees, shrubs, vines: crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia), oleander (Nerium).
• Fruits and vegetables: cilantro, melon, nectarine, okra, peach, peppers, potatoes.

Things to ponder

• Dispose of fallen fruit, which harbors pests.
• Keep water away from trunks of trees and crowns of plants to reduce the potential for disease.
• Sudden limb drop can occur in large, otherwise healthy trees especially during hot summer days in drought years.  Regular deep irrigation in summer - one to two times weekly - may lessen the frequency of such damage.