VOLUME 18, ISSUE 27 • July 7, 2022

Neil Sperry editor. Gretchen Drew design and circulation.

Here's hoping you're staying in the shade, well hydrated and aware that fall’s better gardening will be here before we know it.

In this issue…
• It's time for four o'clocks;
• Factoids on summer tomatoes;
• This weekend's assignments;
• Bad news for ash trees; and
• Your Q's, my A's.

NEIL SPERRY'S LONE STAR GARDENING
On sale. Ready to mail.

I'm holding the price at $32.95.

• I'm trying to help e-gardens subscribers beat back inflation. Book will be $38.95.
• Plan your fall plantings now. It’s the best time for landscaping.
• 344 pages. 840 photos. Hardback. Printed in Texas.
• Covers trees, shrubs, vines, groundcovers, annuals, perennials, lawns, fruit and vegetables.
• Also includes 48-page perpetual calendar of when to plant, prune, fertilize and protect all of your plants for every county in Texas.
• I sign every book as it's bought.
• Not in stores and not on Amazon.
• Satisfaction guaranteed or full refund.

Order from my website or
Call my office M-F, 9-5
(800) 752-4769

Photo: Cheery cherry tomatoes produce by the hundreds.

Gardening This Weekend

Your plants will need your love and attention to get through this hot spell. Let's list the most important things you'll want to get done over this weekend.

Photo: It's a great time to plant ornamental peppers for color 'til frost.

Summer tomatoes

If you're having trouble getting big tomatoes to set fruit in Texas I can explain. There's a well-documented reason that many gardeners don't know.

Photo: Cherry tomatoes aren't the only solution, but they're certainly the easiest.

It's always time for four o'clocks

There's a chance you've never grown four o'clocks, and if that's the case, you really need to. They're lovely heirloom flowers from your grandma's garden. A friend and I were talking about them at church.

Photo: Four o'clocks from the garden of Mac and Annie Cantu, McKinney.

An Insect We Will Know Too Well

If you have an ash tree of any species you need to take note. Emerald ash borers have declared war on them and are making their slow, steady march across Texas. Sadly, there's not much we can do. Please see what I've prepared.

Photo: This is the culprit that's killing our ash trees. Photo by urban forester Haywood Morgan.

Q&A
Ask Neil

Your questions range from tiny specks to great big spots, from heat tracking to root overlapping. Something for everyone. It's time to click to see for yourself.

And, in closing…

It's been quite a week. Probably has been for you as well. Here's hoping you're keeping your plants watered as well as your city and common sense will allow. Pay particular attention to new trees and shrubs and water them by hand, perhaps as often as every couple of days. Wear your sunscreen and do as much of your work in mornings and evenings as possible.

I'm going to be on the radio live this weekend. And in newspapers across Texas. My website is always there, as are the podcasts of my programs.

Lynn and I wish you good health, cool breezes and a peaceful week. Two out of three wouldn't be bad.

Until next time, thanks for reading…

And happy gardening.

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