219 Summer Fruit Tree Pruning. Lemon Verbena. Tomato Troubles.

Yes, it’s August, and it’s hot out, but the garden is a busy place: harvesting, watering, deadheading, weeding. Wise gardeners have added another chore that will help guarantee future garden success: summer pruning of deciduous fruit trees. We’ll tell you why now nipping back your peach, plum, apple, apricot, cherry, nectarine and other fruit trees will lead to better production next year.

Have you heard of lemon verbena? It’s an herb, with showy flowers, and produces leaves that can liven up a lot of your dessert recipes, with a taste that your guests won’t forget.

And there are summer tomato issues. We revisit tips for dealing with August’s tomato pests and diseases, as well as too much sun and heat.

We’re podcasting from Barking Dog Studios here in the beautiful Abutilon Jungle in Suburban Purgatory. It’s the Garden Basics with Farmer Fred podcast, brought to you today by Smart Pots and Dave Wilson Nursery. And we will do it all in about 30 minutes. Let’s go!

Pictured: Summer Pruned Pear Tree

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Book: The Home Orchard,: Growing Your Own Deciduous Fruit and Nut Trees by Chuck Ingels

Dave Wilson Nursery Video: Summer Pruning of Fruit Trees

Lemon Verbena Sugar Cookies Recipe

Lemon Verbena Ice Cream Recipe

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