BOB MORRIS: Plant or pick early to avert squash bugs

We are quickly approaching temperatures (and wind) that require watering figs three times a week. The higher temperatures demand more water for production to continue.

Peaches are a lot easier to protect than figs. Figs must be picked when they are ripe. Peaches will ripen off the tree.

Gardenias have similar needs as roses. Their health and growth respond best to wood chip mulch decomposing on the soil surface.

My guess is that this tree was infected by this bacterial disease. I would not replace it. I would pick a different tree.

My Meyer lemon tree this year has hundreds of buds and flowers. Many on the same the branch or twig.

There are lots of different kinds of petunias. For instance, the Madness Summer Series can take the heat, but petunias typically are not known for that.

Mulch of all types saves water and reduces weeding. But unlike rock mulch, wood chip mulch will rot into the soil.

Anyone who has been gardening for a while has a horror story or two about hornworms, which infest many vegetables in the tomato family.

Boron is one of the salts commonly found in desert soils. It can be present naturally or it can accumulate over the years in such places as horse corrals.