Tips from the Pros
Take the 'Ugh' Out of Grubs
If you have not done so already, now is the time to take action to "grub control" your lawn. For best effects, you want to use Milky Spore or Scott's GrubEx, both of which can be bought at local garden centers. Grubs are a problem because they burrow into your soil and feed on the roots of your grass, causing grass to die and brown out. Grubs mature into beetles, which then can damage trees and shrubs. The adult beetles eat the leaves and flowers of more than 300 plants by eating the tissue between the veins, a type of feeding called "skeletonizing." The beetles don't kill the plants, but leave them half eaten and looking like they are dying. The best time to treat lawns for grubs is between May and July. The adult beetles normally emerge during the last week of June through July. The adults can be destroyed by dropping them into a container of soapy water. If you use a beetle trap, don't place it near plants you wish to protect, as the trap will attract the beetles to the plants.

Plant of the Month
Shasta Daisies
Nothing says "summer" like daisies. In the wild, their white petals and gold centers bring dull meadows to life, and for many gardeners they're the ultimate "happy" flower. If you want to bring the beauty of daisies into your yard, don't go for wild transplants. Choose the domestic cousin, the perennial Shasta daisy. Shasta daisies have the same white and gold colors, but their blooms are bigger and more abundant than the meadow version. In full sun and well-drained soil, they will bloom from early summer until fall year after year. With clumps 2 to 3 feet high and 2 feet across, they're great for perennial borders, require little care and resist heat and drought. Best of all, deer don't like them, so they can help keep Bambi at bay. If you're curious, Shasta daisies get their name from Mount Shasta in Northern California, not far from where plant legend Luther Burbank developed this domestic version of the wildflower.

Landscaping Trend
The Beauty of Water Features
For many families, summer means getting away to spend time in a place near water. But why limit yourself to the weekends or vacation weeks when you can actually get to the shore or a lake? If you can't get to the water, bring the water to you! Many homeowners are doing that by incorporating water features into their landscapes. Water features can take many forms, but the two most popular ones are ponds and pondless waterfalls. Water features can be fitted to any yard or budget, and with advances in technology they can be very low maintenance. They can be combined with plantings like rushes or water lilies to provide visual accents and - best of all - they can add a soothing soundtrack to your outdoor space with a waterfall or fountain. If you're like some homeowners, you may find this so restful you'd rather stay home than travel to find water!

It's Time To ...

• Keep your potted and hanging plants watered. They add color and spark to a patio or porch but they'll go south quickly if left dry on 90-degree days.
• Give roses and other flowering plants a boost of fertilizer or plant food. It can give them strength to withstand hot weather and keep the blooms coming.
• Refresh the edges of your planting beds. A quick once-over with an edger can keep the profile sharp and attractive.
• Keep your hedges trimmed. It may seem over-attentive, but it's easier to trim at least once a month than to let growth bolt in the heat to a unwieldy heights.
• Dead-head your annuals. Picking off old blossoms can extend the blooming season and show off the foliage.
• Raise the cutting height of your mower. Taller grass cools the roots and helps to keep the moisture in the soil longer when the deep heat of July and August sinks in.