The next three months are going to be tough on your plants and you! Do you garden work in the early mornings when it is cooler.

Water, water, water!
1-3 gallons per plant twice a week or even more frequently during super-hot weather.

Mulch with 3 inches of hardwood mulch. It keeps moisture in and breaks down to form compost, feeding the plants.

Water during the early morning, when it is cooler, and use a drip irrigation system on a timer if you go on vacation.

Check moisture with an inexpensive moisture meter like this one. Don't water plants that are already wet. More plants are killed by over watering than under-watering.

Tomatoes and roses like to have a uniform moisture throughout their growing season. It really doesn't matter if the soil is slightly moist all the time or slightly dry all the time, just as long as it does not vary too much. Big swings from dry to wet can cause blossom end rot in tomatoes.

Spray and fertilize roses at least every two weeks. Control black spot and powdery mildew with Ortho Rose-pride and Immunox. Make sure the soil is moist before applying liquid fertilizer. Read the labels and follow the instructions. More is not always better!

For more on the Grayson County Master Gardeners:
(903) 813-4204
http://www.graysoncountymastergardeners.org/