Hort Shorts
- To achieve a longer blooming period, keep faded blooms of annuals pinched-off or cut-off.
- Flowers for indoor decorations should be cut early in the morning. Cut at an angle to insure long vase life. Immediately place in container of tepid water. Among good cut flowers are zinnias, sunflowers, crinums, dahlias, rudbeckias, and Mexican sunflowers (Tithonia rotundifolia.)
- These annuals often become leggy after their first flush of bloom: impatiens, begonias, an salvias Lady in Red and Coral Nymph. They can be trimmed back by one-third. Plants grow back faster if you leave some green foliage. Water them and add a slow-release granular fertilizer.
- Hummingbirds are attracted to trumpet honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens), trumpet vine (Campsps radicans) and cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis).
- Long periods without rain can stress trees. Water deeply and provide more mulch to keep roots cool and provide moisture. To conserve water, irrigate in early morning or late afternoon to conserve moisture.