Around the Yard

Things to do this week:

* Finish up planting. Quickly plant any summer annuals or perennials, so they can be established when July’s persistent heat hits. Portulaca, verbena, vinca rosea, and zinnia are the hot-weather champs in bedding plants, but for summer splash you can also plant ageratum, amaranthus, balsam, celosia, bedding dahlia, gaillardia, gazania, gloriosa daisy, lobelia, marigold, million bells, nierembergia, petunia, and bedding salvia.

It’s not as hot or drying in the shade, so you can take your time planting flowers for shady areas, such as bedding begonia, forget-me-not, caladiums, coleus, mimulus and impatiens.

* Check tomatoes. Those big, green tomato hornworms that can strip whole branches of leaves are almost invisible, but here’s a neat trick suggested by the Los Angeles Common Ground Program: Lightly sprinkle the plants with water and the worms will wiggle, trying to shake off the moisture. Once you spot them, you’ll have to handpick them or hire a neighborhood child if you are squeamish!