This month begins some transitions. Set lawn mowers to cut at least 1-1/2 inches high. If small brown patches appear in the lawn and keep spreading, you may have “brown patch” disease. Treat with a good turf fungicide.

Many of the permanent grasses are at their lowest ebb this month. Kentucky bluegrass and many of the fescues show browned foliage during hot, dry spells but turn green again next month when the fall rains begin. Summer grasses, however, should be actively growing. These include Bermuda, zoysia, St. Augustine and centipede grasses.

Roses are semi-dormant now. Do not feed or water so much as in the past few months. Keep up spraying or dusting weekly to keep your plants healthy. Mildew and blackspot are prevalent, so keep the leaves coated with sulphur for mildew and captan for blackspot. Remove pods from bush and climbing roses, for seed production draws heavily upon the vitality of the plants.

Don’t let dahlias slow up now. Keep them well watered and feed once a month until blooming time, using a complete plant food (a cupful to a large plant). Disbud and tie to stakes weekly.

Rest gloxinias and tuberous begonias now through blooming. Dry off gradually until they are completely at rest, toward the end of the month. Keep in a shady spot.

Insect and disease control should be continued. Some insects thrive in hot weather and preventive measures are needed. Red spiders are serious threats to shrubs and dahlias. Watch for red spiders especially on boxwoods, coniferous evergreens; dahlias, camellias and many broad-leaved shrubs.

The lace bug is a bad actor on azaleas and pyracanthas. It causes a grayish discoloration of the leaves and brown spots on the undersides. Weekly sprayings with oil emulsions, neem or malathion will keep the pests down, but be sure to spray the undersides of the leaves.

White flies are serious on broad-leaved evergreens. One of the best control measures consists of getting rid of privet, one of the natural hosts of white flies. Spray with either malathion or organic Neem oil or horticultural oil.

Whenever a branch of Cedrus deodora, dogwood, lilac or other shrub or tree suddenly dies, look for borers. Usually, you can find holes in the bark near the base of the stem. Remove dead branches and burn. Then, kill the borers left in the plant. Talk to your local nursery, garden center or county agent for the best control methods.

Cannas leaves are often tied together with a tough webbing. The leaves of cannas fail to unfold and, upon breaking open this webbing, you will find green worms eating the tissues. This is the leaf tyer. Keep your cannas foliage sprayed.

While you’re relaxing in the shade of a tree or garden umbrella, increase your gardening knowledge by reading garden books. Soon you’ll be making plans for fall planting. There’s expert advice in books on home landscape planning, general gardening, and special plant hobbies.