Gardening

For dedicated gardeners, here are suggestions from the California Assn. of Nurserymen on what to do in the garden this week:

* Put shut off valves on all your hoses to conserve water.

* Feed houseplants on a monthly basis. It’s their biggest growing season thanks to brighter light and more warmth.

* Set your mower blades higher. Use 2 to 2 1/2 inches for bluegrass lawns, 2 1/2 to 3 inches for tall fescue and 1 inch for warm season lawns such as Bermuda and Zoysia.

* Spray apricots with Benomyl or Captan to prevent brown rot in fruit.

* Celebrate the first day of summer by planting hot weather annuals