Rocktober!!

Ah....what's that strange feeling? Is that fresh air?? October is the gift humans, plants and gritters receive after enduring The Summer. There are always mixed reviews regarding how dreadful the heat was. I never get used to it, even after 16 or so summers working outside. (whining and complaining always help) Every summer, I'm bummed by the damage on plant material caused by the heat, sun scorch, and humidity. It's time to prune, feed, and nuture our green friends. October is the busiest gardening time of the year. It's a perfect time to plant permanent additions to your landscape, as well as all the diverse annual color. So, clean out all the summer flowers (vincas can be cut back and treated as a perennial, but are slightly wimpy in cold weather), remove all old summer veggies, switch bermuda lawns to rye, and hose off all your plants to discourage aphids and whiteflies. (insect pests multiply when the temp. drops...also use insecticidal soap on leaves) Remove dead palm fronds and fertilize roses early in the month for the last time. Enjoy this spectacular month...we are so lucky to live in this beautiful desert! Garden on!!