Ozark Garden Talk – Episode 7: Summer Gardening Questions Answered

Released: July 16, 2025

Hosts: Sarah McCue, Charity Cox, Alex Royce

Episode Length: ~60 minutes

🎧 Watch / Listen on Spotify / Apple / YouTube

🌱 Episode Summary

In this episode of Ozark Garden Talk, hosts Sarah McCue (Owner), Charity Cox (Event Coordinator & Plant Buyer), and Alex Royce (General Manager) answer the most common summer gardening questions. From watering tips and heat-loving plants to pesky squash bugs and weed control, they share their own experiences and practical advice. They also point listeners to the Washington County Extension Service for expert help.

📝 In This Episode

👋 Welcome & Introductions (0:00 – 0:30)

• Meet Sarah, Charity & Alex as they kick off this Q&A episode.

• They explain that questions came from customers, phone calls, and social media.

  
  

❓ Top Summer Questions (0:30 – 2:00)

• How often should I water? When can I plant? What’s okay to plant now?

• 🌟 Charity’s advice: If you can dig a hole and water it properly, you can plant!

  
  

💧 Watering Tips & Best Practices (1:00 – 6:30)

• Check the soil below the surface before watering.

• Don’t confuse wilting from overwatering with wilting from drought!

• 🕔 Best time to water: early morning (5–8 AM) to avoid disease & scorch.

• Use mulch to retain moisture & cool roots.

• Monitor irrigation systems — no “one size fits all.”

  
  

🌸 What to Plant Now (2:30 – 9:00)

• 🌞 Heat-loving stars: native perennials, warm-season grasses & crepe myrtles.

• 🚫 Avoid planting spring ephemerals like Brunnera and Dicentra — they go dormant.

  
  

🐛 Dealing with Summer Pests (15:30 – 22:30)

• Charity shares farmer tactics: plant early & late to stay ahead of pests, use row covers, hand-pick bugs & eggs.

• 🌼 Encourage beneficial insects (like tachinid flies) by planting goldenrod, yarrow, dill, parsley & carrots.

• Use trap boards & grow squash upright in cages to improve airflow & visibility.

  
  

🪲 Japanese Beetle Traps (23:00 – 25:30)

• Yes, they attract more beetles — but placed upwind & away from your plants, they work!

• Traps lure with pheromones & reduce egg-laying.

  
  

🌾 Weed & Bermuda Grass Control (26:00 – 37:30)

• 🌞 Solarization: cover soil with clear or black plastic to “cook” weeds.

• 📦 Cardboard & mulch suppress weeds while building soil.

• ✋ Dense planting & hand-weeding are crucial.

• 🧴 Use herbicides carefully & sparingly — great tips on stump treatment & floral-tube methods.

• The 🧪 Washington County Extension Service offers guidance for stubborn invasives.

  
  

🍂 Preparing for Fall Planting (38:00 – 43:30)

• Improve your soil with compost & mulch now.

• Cover bare soil to prevent weeds.

• 🌱 Start fall veggie seeds soon (broccoli, kale, cabbage).

• Caution with fresh wood chips — let them age to avoid nitrogen tie-up.

  
  

🍎 When & How to Plant Fruit Trees (43:30 – 46:30)

• Best time: fall & early winter (post-dormancy).

• 🎯 Roots establish before summer heat hits.

• The group celebrates this year’s bumper crops of apples, peaches & hardy kiwi!

  
  

🌼 Heat-Tolerant Late Summer Bloomers (48:00 – 58:00)

• Discussed favorites: ironweed, goldenrod, rattlesnake master, echinacea, rudbeckia & coreopsis.

• 🌟 Alex mentions lantana, vinca, zinnias & native grasses.

• ✂️ “The chop” — cut tall natives back in early summer to keep them compact & bushier.

• Visit Fayetteville’s Public Gardens for inspiration on incorporating larger natives!

  

  Vernonia fasciculata- Ironweed

Eryngium yuccifolium Rattlesnake Master

🔬 Using the Washington County Extension Service (58:00 – end)

• Bring diseased or damaged plants to the Extension office for diagnosis.

• 🧪 They offer quick, professional & free analysis.

  
  

🌟 Key Takeaways

🌞 Water Smart: Early morning is best. Observe soil & plants, avoid overwatering.

🌻 Plant for Heat: Natives, warm-season grasses & crepe myrtles shine now.

🐞 Battle Pests: Use row covers, hand-pick bugs, and attract beneficial insects.

🌾 Control Weeds: Solarize, mulch & plant densely. Use herbicides sparingly & precisely.

🍂 Plan Ahead: Start preparing beds & planting fall veggies now.

🔍 Get Help: Washington County Extension Service is an invaluable resource.

📣 Call to Action

🌱 Visit White River Nursery: Find heat-tolerant plants, expert advice & inspiration.

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✨ Thanks for listening — happy gardening! 🌼Have more questions? Drop us a message anytime!