Dear $$firstname$$,

Crystal Rennicke

I don’t know about you, but I have to admit that I’ve been glued to my TV for the past few weeks. I’m actually a little relieved that the Olympics are over, because my life can get back to normal and I can return to the yard to do some much-needed weeding. And with the long Labor Day weekend ahead, I look forward to catching up with my chores and enjoying a little time with friends out back.

By the end of summer, I’m usually feeling a bit sorry for some of my flowers. I’ve been a little neglectful with my watering, and the heat of summer is wearing on them. But there are a few of my favorites that always thrive, even in the hottest weather. Read on for a list of flowers and tips to beat the heat.

Have you sent in your entry to our Budget Backyard Contest yet? We’re awarding $300 to the winners in each of our five categories. For more details and to enter, click here.

If this newsletter was forwarded to you, please use this link to sign up for yourself.

Happy Gardening!
--Crystal

READ ON TO DISCOVER...

• Plant of the Month
• Yard Smarts
• Question of the Month
• Beat the Heat!
• September Regional Checklist
• Frugal Gardener Tip of the Month

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Plant of the Month

Totally Tempted Cuphea
Botanical name: Cuphea llavea  ‘Totally Tempted.’
Hardiness: Annual, except in zones 9-11.
Size: 10 to 12 inches high; 12 to 18 inches wide.
Light needs: Full sun.
Featuring: Crimson blooms with branching habit. Heat- and drought-tolerant.
Growing tip: Water for the first few weeks until established; then little or no supplemental watering is necessary. If used in containers, check daily and water as necessary.
Uses: Hanging baskets, flower beds, borders and combinations.

Click here for more information and how to order.

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Yard Smarts

Pond Protector
Every fall, I had problems with leaves falling into my pond. But I came up with a solution to this mess, using an old patio umbrella.

Remove the cloth from the umbrella, exposing the frame. Add four extension rods, and push them into the ground. Place netting over the top, and secure it with railroad spikes. –Eileen Sarajak, Waterbury, Connecticut

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Question of the Month

Help for Hibiscus
Q: How can I keep the leaves of my hibiscus plant from falling off when I bring it in for the winter season? –Ellen Gale, Bordentown, New Jersey

Melinda: Leaf yellowing and loss are common on hibiscus and other plants moved indoors for winter as they adjust to reduced light in their new environment (even your sunniest window can’t mimic the outdoors). As old leaves drop, the plant replaces them with leaves suited to lower-light conditions.

You can reduce leaf drop by growing your plants in the sunniest window that’s available, adding artificial light to help compensate.

Be sure to adjust your watering to match the change in the growing environment. I prefer watering from the top and place pebbles in the saucer. The excess water collects in the saucer below the pot set on the stones. As the water evaporates, it increases the humidity around the plant.

See more of Melinda’s answers

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Flowers That Beat the Heat

These fuss-free, heat-tolerant hot shots are tough enough to handle whatever Mother Nature dishes out…and they’ll crank up the color in your garden, too!

Blanket Flower California Poppy Coreopsis Cosmos Fan Flower

Moss Rose Penstemon Strawflower Sunflower Zinnia

For 10 tips to beat the heat, click, click here.

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September Regional Checklist

Now is the time of year when the hot days are long and languid. While it’s tempting to kick back in a lawn chair or hammock, take time to remain involved with your yard and garden.

• Northeast
• Northwest
• Southwest
• Central
• Southeast

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Frugal Gardener Tip of the Month

Pinwheel Party

I keep birds and squirrels out of my garden with metallic pinwheels. They cost about $1 each, and they last up to three seasons. We attach one to each tomato stake and a few around the top of our grape-covered arbor. Since we place the pinwheels facing different directions, they’re always in motion. The flashes of reflected light startle and disorientate the critters without harm. And our neighbors love it—they say it makes our garden look like a party every day! –Elizabeth Spurlock, Norcross, Georgia

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Step Back to the Victory Era!

The editors of Reminisce magazine bring you Reminisce Through the Decades: The 1940s, a 6-hour-plus, three-DVD set of real-life stories from the ’40s! For more information, go to www.reminisce.com.

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