William "Bill" Doty

The battle for your lawn and garden

NOW THAT JULY has arrived, here are some tips you can arm yourself with for your lawn and garden. This month is the time for summer fertilization of your lawn. It’s also a good time to repair, renovate, or plant. It is key to work in as much organic materials, such as peat, manure, and compost, into your soil before planting.

Remember, weeds grow at the lower fertility level than turf grasses. A hungry lawn is usually a weedy lawn. Feed and mow your lawn on a regular schedule this year and watch the improvement. Fungus diseases also thrive in July. Watch your grass and use a good granular turf fungicide at the first sign of the disease.

Spraying your roses weekly with a good fungicide such as Thiomyl, Daconil, Dithane, and M-45 is a great idea. Rose bushes are especially hungry plants, so feed them regularly.

Spider mites attack most plants and can do severe damage. Using a miticide such as Merit is your best bet against these difficult pests.

Make sure you watch for scale insects as well. Whiteflies, chinch bugs, sob web, and armyworms are some of the more common nuisances. We have exactly what you need for these battles so you can ultimately win the war and free your lawn and garden of these pests.

CREDIT

by WILLIAM “BILL” DOTY

BIO: William R. “Bill” Doty is the owner of Doty Farm and Garden Supply Inc. Founded in 1954, Doty’s has been there for every one of its loyal customer’s budding needs. Bill graduated from Winter Haven High School and then Florida State University, where he learned valuable lessons in listening, asking questions, and reading anything related to the family business. Bill shares his knowledge with his customers’ daily and our readers each month.

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