VOLUME 20, ISSUE 31 • August 1, 2024

Neil Sperry editor. Gretchen Drew design and circulation.

August arrives, and it marks the watershed of summer looking toward fall. I hope you'll watch e-gardens closely now through the next several weeks for timely tips and tidbits.

In this issue…
• Where we place our shade trees
• When the subject is "yellow"
• This weekend's assignments
• Steve Huddleston's 'Little Lime' and
• Your questions and my answers.

NEIL SPERRY'S LONE STAR GARDENING
You want it for $34.95? OK!

• It covers all topics of outdoor landscaping and gardening for every county in Texas.
• 344 pages. 840 photos. Hardback.
• More than 25 multi-page charts.
• A 48-page perpetual calendar of when to plant, prune, fertilize, and protect all the plants that you're growing.
• I sign every copy as it sells.
• I guarantee your satisfaction or I'll refund every penny.
• Not in stores and not on Amazon. If it were it would be $50 or more.

Order from my website
Or call my office (800) 752-4769

Photo: Variegated tapioca is an unusual and striking source of hot weather color.

Gardening This Weekend

Runners (not that I'd know) refer to having a "kick" at the end of a long race - something in reserve to take them to the finish line. As we head into August, we gardeners need the same thing. I've made a list of the things we need to kick into action. Click and see if you agree.

Photo: Photo 12/15/22 McKinney. To achieve this, prune Salvia greggii back by 30-40 percent now.

'Little Lime' Hydrangea

Steve Huddleston has fallen in love with a relatively new hydrangea – a lime green one at that. ‘Little Lime’ might be perfect for your garden as well. Let him tell you about it.

Photo: Flower panicles of ‘Little Lime’ start out pale green, then shade to creamy white.

Siting our shade trees

Which trees we select and where we position them are the two important factors in how well they meet our landscaping needs. I'm going to point out six ways we make long-term mistakes in placement of shade trees. Hopefully I can help you avoid problems in the future.

Photo: Live oaks are massive. But this is only half of the story.

Bright rays of sunshine

If you're looking for plants that can reflect the summertime sun, I've assembled a fun list. Each can be planted now for color way into mid-fall. Take a quick scan to see which best tickle your tastebuds.

Photo: Dahlberg daisy is a delight.

Q&A – Ask Neil

This week's questions cover a lot of ground: topping a Japanese maple to a White Adore hydrangea sending out an SOS. Cannas at lake's edge this winter to using Image on brand new bermuda. Click your way in.

And, in closing…

That's it for another e-gardens, but I'll be back with more same time, same e-mailbox next week.

In the meantime, please tune me in this weekend. Click here to see the radio stations, times, and phone numbers. I'll wait by my phone to hear from you.

Finally, to my dear wife of 57 years, Happy Anniversary! Lynn looks the same today as she did when we married. I, by comparison … not so much. I am the luckiest guy in the world, and all who know the goodness of this fine lady will agree.

Until next week, thanks for reading, and…

Happy gardening!

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