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Here is what is taking place with our weather. According to Bob Rose our weather guru, we are experiencing a really hot Summer and setting the wrong type of records with number of triple digit days with some occasional relief from scattered showers.

Now, the good news is El Nino is on the way. El Nino will be in the area come September and through the Fall and Winter. What this means of course is that we are going to have a wet Fall and Winter. Hence, we will have a Spring like we have not seen in quite a few years. I can hardly wait and you all are waiting along with me.

Oatmeal Creek has been dry for so long, I have to look at photos taken in the past to remember how beautiful it truly was. The folks on Lake Buchanan have to do the same. Some of the lake dwellers have to use binoculars to see the lake. I do know one thing, when that creek and that lake fills up again, I am going to really appreciate them and not take them for granted.

If you are new to the Texas Hill Country, be prepared for the rains that will come when the drought breaks. Those of us who have lots of white hair have seen this movie many times before.

Mulching and Watering

With triple digit weather the need to mulch and water deeply is critical to the life of your plants and trees. Mulching (placing mulch around plants and trees) should be 3 to 4 inches deep this time of year. The reason for mulching is to slow down the evaporation process and to keep the

plants cooler as insulation does in the attic of your home.

Some of the best materials for this are pine needles or chipped Ashe Junipers (Cedar trees). With the storms that we all experienced a few weeks ago there is plenty of mulch to be had and most of it for free for the hauling off.

Once you have mulched and were careful to keep the mulch away from the trunk of the trees or central stem of the plants, be sure and water slowly and deeply. The best way to water is of course to set up a simple drip system. If you have the time hand watering certainly works well.

July Duties

This is the time of year when we have to look past the heat of today to the cool of Fall. Yes, this is the time to plant those pumpkin seeds. If we want to have those really big pumpkins this October we need to prepare now.

If anyone has any peaches in the Hill Country, July produces the best peaches so call, drive and find those few peaches that are to be found. One of my favorites is Eckhardt’s Peach Orchard south of Fredericksburg on HWY 87. I would call first and save the trip. They as others always pick that morning, so when they sell out that is it for that day.

If the birds are attacking your fruits and vegetables place a birdbath in your garden. The birds are really after fluids and this will cut down on the bird damage to your garden. I certainly hope that you are enjoying a bountiful harvest from your garden and are sharing it with others and preserving and canning for the Winter.

The best thing to do is be in the garden early morning and late in the evening. The only problem with that is that is the same schedule that mosquitoes maintain. There are some things to do to keep them at bay.

One is to purchase a Mosquito Hawk. It is an electric Mosquito Repeller that makes a sound like a dragonfly, the mosquito’s natural enemy. Some folks use pieces of Bounce on their clothing and others just use the usual sprays. All are effective to some degree. It would be so much easier if we could have a pet dragonfly to follow us around.

In my garden and greenhouse, I use the ole white ceramic dish with water and Lemon Joy dish washing liquid in it placed away from where I am working. This solution property applied works like a charm. The mosquitoes are attracted to it, drink the solution and die within 15 feet. Warning: They are attracted to the solution, therefore, place the solution away from where you are going to be working.

Till Next Month!

Keep your souls and your soles in your garden! Remember the True Master Gardener: Jesus said, “I am the vine; my Father is the Gardener.” John 15:1

Have questions or comments? Contact Bill Luedecke at The Luedecke Group Realtors, P.O. Box 1632, Bertram, TX. 78605 (no Post Office in Oatmeal) or email bill@texasland.net. For additional gardening web sites, go to his web site; www.TexasLand.Net and click on links.