Recent transplants still require frequent watering

Even though there has been some heavy rain in areas of Chicago, it is a good idea to continue to monitor and provide supplemental water to plants installed over the last three years as needed, with a focus on plants installed this year.

Older, more established trees and shrubs will most likely be just fine. Make sure the root balls of evergreen trees planted within the last year or two are thoroughly moistened when watering. Densely branched evergreen trees can shed water from rain or a sprinkler away from the root ball so it remains dry while the soil in the bed is moist. Apply water to the base of these trees.

Lawns that are not watered will green up in fall with cooler weather and rain. I have been able to go two weeks between mowing with the drier and warmer weather over the last few weeks.

• During the first week of August, plant short-season snap beans, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, carrots, mustard greens, spinach and radishes for fall harvesting.

• Continue to harvest herbs by snipping foliage, drying entire sprigs or plants, or freezing individual portions in ice-cube trays. Pinch off developing flowers to retain essential oils and flavor in the plants' foliage.

• Continue to groom your perennials and annuals by removing yellowing foliage and spent flowers. Make note of perennials that have flopped and need staking so a support system can be installed next spring before the plants actually need it. Gentle pruning back of more vigorous perennials can help keep your border from looking overgrown. Cutting leaves off at the base can reduce the size of the plants without having them look pruned. You may want to let certain dried flowers on plants, such as astilbe and coneflower, remain standing for fall and winter interest. Goldfinches visit my coneflowers in fall and eat the seeds.

• Tim Johnson is director of horticulture at Chicago Botanic Garden, chicagobotanic.org.