• Annuals: Plants that can take summer heat include salvia, torenia, wax begonia, ornamental pepper, celosia, portulaca, vinca, and some coleus.
   
• Bulbs: Some lilies do better when their roots are crowded. Try planting Amazon, Aztec, and Clivia lilies in containers to increase blooming
  
• Herbs: Plant heat-loving herbs, including basil, Mexican tarragon and rosemary.  Pinch back regularly to prevent flowering and enhance branching.
   
• Vegetables: Southern favorites to plant now are okra, southern peas, sweet potato, and Malabar spinach. It is too late to plant tomatoes.

WHAT TO DO:

• Pests: Watch for thrips, scale, and mites on ornamental plants because they become more active in warm weather.
   
• Gardenias: Distinguish between the normal yellowing of older leaves and the yellowing of new growth, which usually indicates a micronutrient deficiency.
  
• Oleanders: Inspect chewed or ragged leaves for oleander caterpillars at work. Hand pick, if possible.
   
• Lawns: Watch for damage from chinch bugs in St. Augustine grass and begin scouting for newly hatched mole crickets in bahia grass lawns. Do not mistake irrigation problems with a pest infestation.
   
• Trees: Prepare for hurricane season by checking trees for damaged or weak branches and pruning, if needed.
   
• Pruning: Lightly prune summer-flowering shrubs, like hibiscus, oleander, and crapemyrtle, during the warmer months because they bloom on new growth. Azaleas can still be pruned until the middle of next month without harming next spring's buds.