End of Summer

It might be wishful thinking that end of summer thing, but the garden will soon be turned in preparation for Fall planting

For now, it looks like this.

Bees

Just weeks ago in Elmwood, Canada, local beekeeper Dave Schuit lost 600 hives, or a total of 37 million bees. Another Canadian farmer lost eight of his 10 hives.

The bees started dying in droves just after corn in the area was planted, an alarming red flag since corn seeds are often treated with neonicotinoid pesticides, which are known to kill insects by attacking their nervous systems.  Read more.

Homemade weed killer

Homemade Weed Killer

1 gallon of white vinegar
1/2 cup salt
Liquid dish soap (any brand)

Empty spray bottle. Put salt in the empty spray bottle and fill it the rest of the way up with white vinegar. Add a squirt of liquid dish soap. This solution works best if you use it on a hot day. Spray it on the weeds in the morning, and as it heats up it will do its work.

Sun scald in the low desert

PLANTS MOST SUSCEPTIBLE: Wide variety of sun sensitive plants including citrus, mimosa, mulberry, etc.

SYMPTOMS:

The bark on the South or West sides of the trunk becomes discolored and may split or crack exposing the wood beneath to disease and insect predators.


CAUSE:

• Newly planted trees may lack sufficient canopy to shade the bark
• Pruning in the Spring or Summer which exposes previously shaded trunk area to intense sunlight.
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MANAGEMENT:
Prevention

• Avoid pruning sun sensitive trees during the spring or summer. If pruning is necessary, try not to open up areas of shaded bark.
• Protect exposed areas by painting with a white, water-based paint, shading with a cloth or paper wrapping.
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Treatment
• Shade the effected area
• Monitor for bacterial or fungal infection and apply fungicide or 10% bleach solution if necessary