Making Memphis Gardens Beautiful

No, you should not rely solely on an automatic system during the first growing season. The root zone is still limited to the original container size and may only receive around 13% of the water other established plants get. Supplement with direct hand-watering at the base of the plant, particularly during the hot Mid-South summer. Memphis clay can look moist on the surface while the root ball itself is dry, so check the soil near the trunk directly rather than judging by the surrounding ground.

Raise the wheels on your mower to keep the grass taller — roughly 2 to 3 inches for Zoysia and Bermuda. Taller grass shades the soil, reduces water evaporation, and helps the lawn resist sunburn and weeds.

Pick up the pot. If it feels noticeably lighter than usual, the soil is dry and the plant needs a thorough watering. Container plants lose water quickly in summer heat, and the weight of the pot is a reliable daily indicator.

Complete heavy pruning of evergreens by July 1st. Pruning later in the season stimulates a burst of new growth that may not have enough time to "harden off" before the first freeze. In the Mid-South, where the first freeze typically arrives in November, growth stimulated after July is especially vulnerable to winter damage.

Blossom end rot is a calcium deficiency usually triggered by inconsistent watering. Apply calcium nitrate to the soil and maintain steady moisture levels so the plant can absorb nutrients properly.

Use growth regulators like Altosid or bacteria-based products like BTi, sold as Mosquito Bits or Dunks. These are safe for fish, plants, and pets but prevent mosquito larvae from maturing.

Water roses early enough in the day so the foliage is dry before nightfall. Leaves that remain wet for eight to ten hours overnight are a primary trigger for black spot fungus. Morning watering significantly reduces this risk compared to evening watering.

Apply treatments like imidacloprid in mid-April through May when grubs are near the surface. This also helps reduce the future population of adult Japanese beetles.