Stress, stress and more stress is what our trees and our yards are feeling as we move into the hottest time of the year. The good news is that this can be helped tremendously by foliar feeding (spraying the leaves) with a mixture of a cup of aerated compost tea, an ounce of fish emulsion, an ounce of liquid seaweed, an ounce of molasses placed in a gallon of water. The best time of the day to apply this concoction is early morning and late evening when the leaves are open and receptive to the feeding. Warning. This is the time of year that you want to water slowly and deeply for your trees and other plants. This is where drip systems really shine.

Remember to check your mulching of the vegetation, trees and shrubs. This is a 3 – 4 inch mulch time. Always make sure that the mulch is not touching the plant.

Having discussed the hot weather already, guess what? It is time to plan and plant for the Fall. Every thing that is not still producing remove from your garden and till the soil as you add amendments to build up the soil to produce through the Fall. If your tomatoes are still producing you can wait till later in the month then cut them down to 12 inches and feed and you will get tomatoes till the first freeze. If your tomato plants are not producing well remove them and go buy some new plants to plant. Your local nursery will be very happy to make suggestions as to what plants do well under your particular garden conditions.

Monument Farmers Market

For those of you who frequent Williamson County, in particular Georgetown, you have a treat in store for you. You can shop all day every day and receive the options of many farmers markets in one building that is even climate controlled. This farmers market is the Monument Market located (500 S. Austin Ave) next door to the Monument café just north of the square in Georgetown on Main Street. At the Market you can purchase veggies, baked goods, milk, cheeses, wine, meat, (Yak meat available), all products from area farms, ranches and Texas food artisans, all the yummy products you want and all organic. There are gardens next to the restaurant and the Market.

Drought Loving Beans

Here is a veggie that laughs at the drought conditions and has been around all along. My friend and fellow Realtor Gail Wood shared this amazing bean with me the other day. Gail said that they ate them when he was growing up in Spicewood area. They look like a small navy bean and are white in color (Gail brought me some). They are called Tepary beans, and further research uncovered the name the Papago Indians gave the bean was Pawi; other names are yori mui, pavi, and Texas Bean. This bean is ideal for our area and thrives in our soil and drought conditions, as it is indigenous to North America and in particular the Southwest. It is reportedly healthy and delicious, a great combination.

Second Best Time

August is the second best time of the year to prune trees, particularly Live Oak trees. The beetles that carry the bad stuff (don’t mean to get technical) are not active this time of year. However, this year due to the drought and heat of triple digits, I am suggesting that you don’t add to the trees already stressed conditions and postpone the pruning until the best time which is in December and January when it is cold. Our trees certainly don’t need to be stressed any more than they are at the moment. Earlier in this column, we discussed the recipe for relief for stress for trees, and I am going to apply that to my trees and vegetation every other week till we receive those cooler temperatures of Fall and prayerfully moisture.

New Product Explored

I am testing a new product for plants that if it proves out will take the place of my having to brew Compost Tea. I am very excited with the results so far. I have used it on my veggies and peppers with impressive results and of course it is organic. Better yet, it is locally produced and easy to use; plus it works on houseplants, garden plants, and trees. Praise God, this is my kind of product. Next month I will reveal the name of the product and my results.

Appropriate Scripture for August

"The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever." Isaiah 40:8

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.