Summer

Learn the individual horticultural requirements for each tree in your collection.
Be aware of your yard's microclimate and alter this guide accordingly.
There are no hard and fast rules for all trees of a species.

June

• Feed trees with slow release food. Foliar feed all trees every two weeks with soluble fertilizer.
• As satsuki flower start to fade remove all flowers, buds and flower stems to prevent seed pods from forming. Cut all new shoot to two leaves. Remove all shoots pointing inward or downward to produce layered branches.
• Wire and repot azaleas. This is also the best time for heavy root pruning of azaleas.
• Start removing black pine candles in mid-month. Remove the smallest 1/3 of the candles first; remove the middle-sized candles a week later; and a week after that remove the largest remaining candles.
• Defoliate maples and other deciduous trees to reduce leaf size and increase twigging(DEFOLIATE HEALTHY TREES ONLY) The ideal location for newly defoliated tree is in warm morning sun with high humidity and NO WIND.
• Water thoroughly and carefully. DO NOT over water(especially newly transplanted trees) or roots may rot.
• Healthy deciduous trees may be transplanted after defoliation. (Do not over water).

July

• WATCH OUT FOR HOT WEATHER! Make sure trees are well watered in the morning and water again in the afternoon on very hot, dry or windy days. Pan of water under benches will increase humidity around your trees.
• IF maples show sign if edge burn, top dress soil with gypsum. If center of leaves are burning move under shade cloth or allow morning sun only.
• Trimming azaleas after the first week of July will remove next years flower buds
• Defoliation and/or drastic pruning may still be done on healthy deciduous trees.
• TRANSPLANT TREES NOW ONLY IF ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY. Deciduous trees should be defoliated first if transplanted now.
• This is a good time for making jin and shari on conifers.
• Feed all tree except black pines with slow release food. Foliar feed all trees every two weeks with soluble fertilizer.

August

• It's important to insure your trees get sufficient nutrition, as they are storing energy for next spring. Feed with slow release food and foliar feed every two weeks with suitable fertilizer. Feed azaleas with 0-10-10. Any tree that is NOT deep green should be given a chelated iron supplement.
• Spray with insecticides often as needed for aphids, mealy bugs, scale, leafhopper and the zillion other pests that attack in warm weather. Spray with water to discourage infestation.
• Watch for red spider mites, especially on junipers. Heavy spraying of foliage while watering will discourage mites. If they appear (yellow foliage, tiny webbing under foliage) spray with insecticide.
• Trim new growth on deciduous trees to two leaves per twig. Remember, flower buds are forming on azaleas, so trimming reduces next year's bloom.
• On black pine new candles should now be forming in a ring around the scar where you cut the candles off. When these buds are about 1/4 long, thin them to three candles on strong branched and two candles on weaker branches.
• Remove all OLD needles from five-needle pines.
• Trees are expanding rapidly in girth now. Keep a close eye on wire and remove it when needed.
• DO NOT EXCEPT IN EXTREME EMERGENCY, REPOT NOW