• Work in the garden early in the morning or late in the evening, use sunscreen, wear a long-sleeved shirt and covered head gear. Take plenty of breaks, drink plenty of water and don't get overheated.

• Convert troublesome turfgrass areas into low-maintenance hardscapes. Try using bark, gravel, wood decking or an organic hardwood mulch along with decorative pottery planted with seasonal color.

• Pull non-producing vegetable plants, especially the tomatoes before diseases and spider mites move in.To attract butterflies and supply pollen as well as nectar for beneficial insects; plant coreopsis, coral vine, blue plumbago, butterfly weed, lantana, purple coneflower, yarrow, Lilac flowering Duranta, and Texas Lilac Vitex.
  

David Rodriguez is the County Extension Agent-Horticulture with the Texas AgriLife Extension Service in Bexar County. For more information, call the Master Gardener "Hotline" (210) 467-6575 or visit our County Extension website at http://bexar-tx.tamu.edu.

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