Seasonal Topics

Summer

Summer brings morning fog, sunny and mild afternoons, and occasional heat waves. During this, our dry season, virtually no rain falls. Native plants are dormant at this stressful time; for example buckeye trees (Aesculus californica) drop their leaves to conserve water through the hot months. Insects are still very active, though beneficial insects hopefully have caught up with the pests.

This spring's warm weather created more work in some areas and less in others. The Irrigation Crew had additional demands as warm weather arrived early. On the other hand, the wild grasses in the Arboretum and elsewhere were shorter and dried out more quickly, allowing the mow crew to make fewer visits to these areas.

Powdery mildew may appear on the leaves of various plants, from roses to sycamores. Overhead watering in the morning may help to wash away spores and mildew. The best control is to plant resistant varieties, if available, such as the young plane tree (Platanus acerifolia 'Yarwood') in front of Lagunita Court. This variety is mildew resistant.

June is a good time to lay down a 2-4" layer of mulch in planting beds. This helps conserve moisture and suppress weeds. The Gardening Crew might be touching up the Quad or the median strips along roadways using mulch generated by the Tree Crew. The Irrigation Crew is busy maintaining existing irrigation lines at this critical time, though our automated Maxicom computer central control system optimizes water use.

In July, the Mow Crew continues flail mowing in greenbelt areas with tall grasses, such as the Arboretum and Faculty/Staff Housing. Removing these fire hazards is critical from March through September. Elsewhere, the lawns are mowed high to minimize stressing the grass and to conserve water.

August is a good time to prune formal hedges, after their spring growth. The Ligustrum hedges along Lasuen Mall and the myrtle arcades throughout the Quad are good candidates for shearing by the Pruning Crew at this time.

Instead of planting, focusing on hardscaping is best at this time of year. The Road Maintenance Crew installs pavers and fencing as needed.

Campus Blooms

White, pink and red oleander (Nerium oleander) put on a good show from spring to fall; look for it in the courtyard at Terman Engineering, in McCullough Tower Courtyard at Schwab Residential Center, and along East Campus Drive between Escondido Road and Mayfield Avenue. Lily-of-the-Nile (Agapanthus spp.) is another typical summer-flowering exotic plant. There are large installations at 315 Bonair Siding, in Oregon Courtyard, and White Plaza. Red-hot pokers (Kniphofia hybrids) shoot up like fireworks from the beds in Galvez Mall.

The Australian flax-leaf paperbark trees (Melaleuca linariifolia) along Peter Coutts Road are also called 'snow-in-summer' trees because of the cream-colored blooms in early June that literally cover the tree.

Other June blooms include the purple flowers on the Jacaranda trees (Jacaranda mimosifolia) at Rains Housing and in the main Quad, the bright orange "combs" of silk oak (Grevillea robusta) at New Guinea Garden and throughout the Arboretum, and the pink tufts of mimosa (Albizia julibrissin) in the Quad's Math Corner Courtyard.

An unusual plant for this area is the tipu tree (Tipuana tipu) from South America. This tender member of the pea family has bright yellow flowers in late June, followed by characteristic pea-pod fruits. Several specimens occur in Rains Housing. Another uncommon plant in this area is the young desert willow tree(Chilopsis linearis) planted along East Campus Drive, in front of the Enchanted Broccoli Forest. Pink trumpet-shaped flowers appear in clusters in June. An easily overlooked plant at any other time of year is the cow itch tree (Lagunaria pattersonii), in the Quarry Road parking lot across from Welch Road. The grey-green foliage is obscured by masses of pink and white 2" hibiscus-like flowers, followed by showy brown seed capsules.

Several kinds of lavender have been planted on campus. The herb garden at Schwab Center has English lavender (Lavandula angustifolia), which is available in many cultivars. The cultivar 'Munstead', seen at 651 Serra St. makes a nice low hedge. Another species, Spanish lavender (Lavandula stoechas), can be found along Galvez St, at the intersection with Memorial Way. At Toyon Hall, hedge lavender (Lavandula x intermedia 'Provence') and French lavender (Lavandula dentata) flank the entranceway and courtyard beds, respectively. There are many other campus locations for lavenders, such as the Cantor Center, the School of Education north courtyard, Escondido Village Studio 2 and Ford Center.

The crape myrtles (Lagerstroemia indica) along Galvez Mall in front of the new Alumni Center and along Parking Structure II at Via Ortega are a pink blaze in July. Varieties named for Native American tribes, such as 'Hopi' and 'Tuscarora', are resistant to powdery mildew and should be used in this area.

From June through July, several plants native to California come into their peak bloom. California fuchsia (Epilobium canum canum) circles the north lawn of the new Alumni Center. An older installation can be found along East Campus Drive, at the Enchanted Broccoli Forest. Nearby, sulfur buckwheat (Eriogonum umbellatum) produces clusters of yellow flowers on long stalks. These fade to an attractive rust color and are good in dried flower arrangements. Five to six inch Matilija poppy (Romneya coulteri) flowers look like fried eggs on 5-foot gray-green stalks. You may notice them on the east side of Memorial Auditorium, the north side of new Green Library, or behind the Housing Maintenance Center for Escondido Village.

In August, the red and white Olympia Begonias in the Oval are a riot of color against the golden backdrop of the hills. As you walk toward Memorial Church, you pass by red zonal geraniums (Pelargonium x hortorum 'Americana Red') in Memorial Court. Nearby, the pomegranates (Punica granatum) in the Quad and Old Union courtyards that flowered so nicely in June have formed balls of fruit filled with tasty pulp. Purple-flowering Mexican sage (Salvia leucantha) begins its bloom cycle behind the Bakewell building at Ford Center and elsewhere.

Month by Month in Your Garden

June:

• If you haven't already done so, add a 2-6" layer of mulch to planting areas to conserve soil moisture and suppress weeds.
• Encourage beneficial insects by planting for year-round blooms: yarrow, cosmos, asters, sunflowers, herbs.
• Plant summer bedding plants: petunias, marigolds, delphiniums, zinnias.
• Protect fruit from birds, animals, pests (cover with netting).
• Remove fire hazards - brush, debris, mow dry grasses.
• Prune out dead branches and keep limbs from within 15 feet of structures.
• Keep roof clean - clean out gutters.
• Water in morning to prevent powdery mildew, rust, and other fungal diseases.

July:

• Summer is the most difficult time to install new plants, when the long days and high temperatures make watering correctly a challenge. An easier option is to plan your garden now, then install plants in fall. In fall the rains begin, the days are shorter, the temperatures are more moderate and the soil is still warm enough to encourage good root growth.
• Use water wisely; deep-water in basins, avoid overwatering, and use mulch.
• Focus on hardscaping (structural elements such as paths, driveways, fences and arbors).
• Harvest vegetables.
• Start seeds of cool weather crops indoors.
• Keep pests in check: pull weeds, handpick snails and slugs, watch for gophers.
• Plant chrysanthemums and asters for instant color.
• Monitor container plants - they dry out more quickly in hot weather.
• Mow your lawn high to stress grass as little as possible.
• Let roses rest now for more prolific flowering in fall.
• Control pests: handpick tomato hornworms, pull weeds.
• Deadhead flowers to extend bloom time.

August:

• Summer is the most difficult time to install new plants, when the long days and high temperatures make watering correctly a challenge. An easier option is to plan your garden now, then install plants in fall. In fall the rains begin, the days are shorter, the temperatures are more moderate and the soil is still warm enough to encourage good root growth.
• Use water wisely; deep-water in basins, avoid overwatering, and use mulch.
• Put in hardscape, fences.
• Remove spent vegetables: start a compost pile.
• Start seeds of cool-season annuals: calendula, Iceland poppy, pansy, primrose, stock, viola.
• Sow seeds of perennials for next spring: columbine, gaillardia, lupine, penstemon, purple coneflower, yarrow.
• Sow sweet peas.
• Deadhead flowers to extend bloom.
• Prune formal hedges, vines and shrubs to control size next year.