THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT  
              Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Sunday, August 6, 1995                 TAG: 9508030160
SECTION: HOME                     PAGE: G1   EDITION: FINAL 
COLUMN: REMINDERS
SOURCE: ROBERT STIFFLER
                                             LENGTH: Short :   38 lines

EVEN PLANTS DON'T LIKE DOG DAYS OF SUMMER

THE HOT WEATHER of the past few weeks reminds us why these are traditionally called the dog days of summer. They're not fit for man or beast - or even plants. It's too hot and dry to move or plant new plants.

Put off such activity until after Sept. 15 and your chances for success are much better.

Another rule to remember during this heat wave is to avoid severe pruning when plants are under stress. That means do not prune in hot, dry, humid weather; put if off until cooler weather returns.

We've had some thunderstorms, but they are very scattered, dumping a lot of water on some areas while neighboring lawns and gardens may be completely dry. Plants throughout the area are struggling to stay alive.

Adding to the problem are the furious winds that accompany some late-afternoon thunderstorms. The winds can knock over plants such as tomatoes, peppers and eggplants. Your tomatoes already should be in cages by now, but it's not too late to put peppers and eggplants in cages too. From now through fall, they'll produce better when caged or staked.

While you can't do much work in the garden now, it is time to buy bulbs for fall planting at your favorite garden center or by mail. ILLUSTRATION: Color photo

ROBERT STIFFLER

When ordering fall bulbs, consider mixing pink-red tulips with blue

forget-me-nots.

by CNB