A houseplant is simply an outdoor plant brought inside. Light requirements vary for indoor plants, but most of them will not tolerate direct summer sun.
Check drip emitters to adjust flow and unclog them if needed.Lightly trim lavenders after they have finished flowering to keep them compact.Support any heavily laden branches of fruit and nut trees.Water citrus, being careful not to overwater. Continuously wet soil in the upper few inches risks root rot.Deadhead roses, remove suckers and unwanted branches, and prune to improve air circulation.Divide iris every 2 or 3 years and replant new rhizomes.Lightly fertilize annuals and roses for fall bloom.Any planting this month (including trees and shrubs) will require adequate water and sun protection.Bulbs, corms, tubers: Watsonia.Fruits and vegetables: lettuce, mustard, peas, potatoes, spinach, Swiss chard, turnips (plant from seed).Annuals and perennials: petunia, annual phlox (Phlox drummondii), moss rose (Portulaca), sage (Salvia), Stokes’ aster (Stokesia), verbena, zinnia.Bulbs, corms, tubers: lily (Lilium asiatic hybrid).Trees, shrubs, vines: desert willow (Chilopsis), rose, chaste tree (Vitex).Fruits and vegetables: cantaloupe, plum, tomato, tomatillo, squash. Do not allow vegetables to dry out – but do not overwater either. A consistent, even supply of moisture prevents bitterness in cucumbers and cracking and poor fruit quality in tomatoes.Standing water, even in the very smallest container, can be a breeding ground for mosquitoes.Browse fall catalogues or websites to order seeds and bulbs for winter and spring.
Source: Adapted from A Gardener’s Companion for the Central San Joaquin Valley, 3rd edition, currently available from Fresno County Master Gardeners for $30. These can be purchased at our demonstration garden – Garden of the Sun (1750 N Winery (McKinley/Winery), open Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 9 am to Noon, and via email at mgfresno@ucanr.edu. Gardening questions answered as well at mgfresno@ucanr.edu. Prepared by Terry Lewis, Master Gardener UCCE Fresno County.