• During August our lawns need about 1 1/2 inches of water a week from rain or watering. During dry periods lawns will need watering one to two times a week.

• If you have let your lawn go dormant, make sure to water one inch every three weeks to keep your lawn alive.

• Watch for white grub damage. Brown grass will lift up like a piece of carpet and white "c" shaped worms with a brown head will be easily seen. If found treat with dylox (trichlorfon) and immediately apply 1/4 inch of water.

• Fall seeding starts the end of August through September for fescue. For bluegrass it starts at the end of August through October 17th.

• Keep mower blades sharp. On average the mower blades should be sharpened every 10 hours of use. Mow fescue and bluegrass as high as the mower will set which will be 3 - 3 1/2 inches. Mow zoysia with a setting of 1 1/2 - 2 inches high.

• For information on fertilizing, weed and insect control, mowing, and watering for fescue, bluegrass, or zoysia lawns visit Toby's Summer Program under TIPS.

• YELLOW OR GREEN LEAVES DROPPING FROM TREES! Because of our great growing conditions this spring our trees have produced an abundance of leaves. When the weather turns hot, dry, and stressful, they can no longer support the excess leaves so they release them. As long as there are no disease spots on the leaves, the yellow and green leaves are natural and nothing to worry about.

• VERY IMPORTANT!!! ALWAYS PLAN BEFORE PLANTING! If you are going to plant trees or shrubs this fall, call Rick Barrett, Landscape Architect, 913-362-1200 for a landscape consultation. Rick will come to your home and recommend the best plants for your particular situation. Call now before the Fall Rush!

• WATCH THE WATER! During dry periods, newly planted trees and shrubs should be watered once a week. Trees and shrubs planted within the last 3 to 5 years should be watered every other week during dry periods.

• Spider Mite damage showing up now, especially on Burning Bush (Euonymus Alatus), Alberta Spruce, and Juniper Evergreens. Spray with spectracide triazicide. Be sure to spray the underside of the leaves.

• Do not fertilize trees and shrubs now so that new growth can harden off before winter.

• Worst year we've seen in years for bagworms. They need to be sprayed quickly. Bagworms usually quit feeding mid to late August and no longer can be controlled. Use spectracide triazicide.

• Prepare for fall gardening, plant:

• Tomatoes not setting fruit? Daytime temperatures 95 degrees or higher and night-time temperatures above 75 degrees cause poor fruit set. When weather cools down they'll start setting again.

• Continue to watch tomatoes for spider mites. If found spray with Organicide. Be sure to spray the underside of the leaves.

• Gardens need 1 1/2 inches of water per week. Water early in the day to help prevent disease.

• Fertilize strawberry beds with ZOOM 5-10-5 fertilizer.

• WHEN TO HARVEST WATERMELONS? Here are the most common ways to tell when watermelons are ready to eat:

• Prop up branches of fruit trees that are threatening to break under the weight of a heavy crop.

• Plants need 1 1/2 inches of water weekly. Water during dry periods.

• Fertilize Mums, hardy Asters, and other fall blooming perennials with Zoom 5-10-5 granular fertilizer or Dyna Green Sure Bloom liquid fertilizer.

• Annuals looking rough? Cut back hard and fertilize with Zoom or Sure Bloom. They will produce new growth and fall blooms.

• Divide Bearded Iris by the 15th. Tops of rhizomes are planted just above ground level.

• Divide Daylilies every three to four years. Cut back the tops half way. Dig up the entire clump. Wash off the soil from the clump and roll the clump back and forth until individual divisions separate. Replant 2 to 2 1/2 feet apart at original depth.

• End of August through September dig and divide Peonies. Make sure the pink eyes are planted no deeper than an inch below the surface.

• Roses: The last feeding is August 15 with Bayer All-IN-ONE Rose and Flower Care.

• Check plants early morning and evening for insects. This is when they are most active. Only spray for insects when you find them.

• Clean weeds from beds and apply Preen Garden Weed Preventer to keep them from coming back.

• We have had great success with Deer Scram and Rabbit Scram. Check Hummert Dealers under Friends of Toby for closest dealer.

• Check air pressure monthly in tires for better gas mileage.

• Clean or replace furnace filter.

• Clean filter of any window unit air conditioner.

• Get the fireplace ready for fall. Inspect and have the chimney cleaned.

• Patch up blacktop driveways. The hot weather will make the patching compound easier to work with.

• Check your concrete driveway. If it is starting to flake (spall) call Sealmaxx of KC for estimate to save. After a Sealmaxx treatment the driveway will be protected for at least 25 years.

• Oil spots on Driveway? Best product I've seen in a long time: Pour-n-Restore. Pour on oil spot (it looks like cake batter). Let dry and then sweep off. Oil spot will be gone. It is available at Nuts and Bolts Hardware, 95th and Nall, and Kramer Hardware, Kearney, MO 816-628-4429 AND they will mail. THIS STUFF WORKS!!!