Give those trees a drink!

I'm seeing a lot of dry spots in lawns. With a week and a half of over 90 degree days, it is understandable. If there are no nearby trees, some extra water will usually bring the lawn back. But, if there is a large tree near the spot, suspect it. Trees are survivors. If they get too dry, they will suck the moisture out wherever they can get it.

Trees do not get enough water from day to day lawn sprinklers. They need extra water, especially during hot dry spells. Lay a hose within a few feet of the trunk and let it trickle overnight. That will usually do the trick. You should do this at least once a month during the summer. If you can't be bothered, don't be surprised if that tree is dead next spring.

Now is the time to divide or move irises. Unlike most spring blooming perennials, irises should not wait until fall. They have such shallow roots ... right at the surface of the ground, that they need extra time to get those roots going down into the soil so they can survive winter.

If you absolutely, positively cannot get this job done, there is a way to postpone it until next summer. For those big overgrown clumps, you will need some compost, either homemade or purchased. Take a sharp spade or shove and dig out the entire center of the clump. Replace it with a generous pile of compost. Water in and you are done ... for a year. This works as I have done it. In fact, I had more bloom stalks the next spring than ever.

Lawns need to be mowed high during hot weather. Speaking of mowing, please do NOT mow your lawn while wearing flip flops or worse yet, bare feet. People do this all the time and sooner or later, they will pay the price. I don't want to be there to see it.

There are times when we need to get rid of a tree. If you have quaking aspens or lilacs that you want to kill, just cutting them down won't do the trick. These are not easy to get rid of, especially the quaking aspens as they do not grow as a single tree. They grow in clumps called a copse, with a shared root system which continually pops up new baby trees along the edges.

In order to kill these, you need a bottle of Brush Killer ... several brands are available, some being called Blackberry Brush Killer. As you cut off each tree or sucker, immediately paint the stump with this substance, using a small paint brush.

These trees can be beautiful ... in a very large area. They do not do well in a small urban lot. They will only drive you - and your neighbors - to distraction.

Vegetable gardens have enjoyed more sunny days than usual. If they got enough water, they should be producing lots of choice edibles. Raspberries that received a dose of fertilizer earlier this summer and lots of water have been especially nice.

Have you ever wondered why we see lightning before we hear thunder? The speed of lightning is 186,282 miles per second while the speed of sound is a much slower 1,116 feet per second. You can easily measure how close a lightning bolt is. Start counting when you see a lightning flash, stop when you hear the thunder. Divide the number by 5 and you will have the distance.

Be sure to be in a safe spot while you do this. A single tree in an otherwise flat area is not a good choice.

A perfect summer day is when the sun is shining, the birds are singing and the lawn mower is broken.

Elaine Cerny has gardened most of her life, starting in 4-H. Since then, she has always kept a garden of some sort, growing everything from fruits and vegetables to flowers and house plants. She has belonged to garden clubs in three states and is currently secretary for the River City Gardeners Club in Post Falls.