Don't be a drip

In the dog days of summer, when the heat's up and the water's low, a bit of common sense can make you a better gardener:

*Water when the day is coolest.

*Loosen hard-packed clay soil so water can penetrate.

*se mulch to moderate soil temperature and control weeds.

*Pull weeds, lest they rob soil nutrients from other plants.

*Space plants close together so their leaves will shade the soil.

*When the majority of the tomato fruit reach full size, strip off most of the mature leaves to reduce evaporation.

Source: The Old Farmer's

Almanac

(c) Copyright 1999. The Christian Science Publishing Society