Summertime and the living is ...

Summer is now upon us and that ol' song is running around in my brain ... ♫Summertime, and the livin' is easy♫ well that may be true for some however I believe the majority would substitute the word easy for 'hot' or even 'boring' depending how old you are ... nevertheless, it is time for me to remind you of some thoughts for summer ... The snowbirds have gone home, there's parking everywhere, it's hot-hot-hot and the kids are out of school.

Things really slow down when schools close for the summer. Vacations start, kids go to camp or the beach, etc.; however... not everyone can get away. Boredom can set in quickly when there's little to do and no money to do it with ..... which reminds me of a quote I've cited previously "If the Devil finds a man idle, he'll set him at work - J. Kelly - Scottish Proverbs 1721.

Don't be a victim - Keep Alert !!! and keep your garage door closed or at least only open enough so that no one can get under it, especially a small unattended child. Considering that heat rises, there may be no significant benefit in keeping your garage door open anyway. You'd be better off installing a vent higher over the existing vent(s) in your garage to allow a better flow of air, getting an attic fan, a whole house fan or maybe a garage air conditioner.

Watering tip to save money, save water and make your landscape drought resistant: Water once in the morning, a good soak so the water goes deep and the roots will follow. Watering 3-5 times a day, might make you think you're being nice to your landscape but a lot of water hits the sidewalk and gutter 3-5 times a day taking your money with it. There's also 3-5 times as much evaporation, especially at the hotter times of day - wasted water and money; and finally, the roots remain close to the surface where they are subject to higher temperatures and if subjected to severe conditions or a REAL drought came, they have no chance. If your water is one 3-5 times a day, it's probably because your Gardener has never changed it since the last overseeding ... Mother nature says "For shame" ... Additionally, consider a smart irrigation controller from CVWD. As always ... Keep the faith !!!