Keven Pauling
Plant
The monsoon season is one of the most desirable times of the year to plant. Increased humidity and rain helps plants establish better root systems with less stress than if planted earlier in the summer.
Adjust Irrigation System
If monsoon rains have brought adequate moisture, adjust your irrigation system to skip as needed so that roots are not over watered.
Clean Dusty Plants
Hose off plants dirty from dust storms with a strong spray of water or try my Dr. Kevens Plant and Bug Wash to clean plants and reduce the chance of spider mite infestation.
Here is my secret recipe: Buy a hose-end sprayer and set it to 1/2 ounce/gallon or 20 gallon on the preset type. Pour eight ounces of unscented liquid dish soap, eight ounces of antiseptic mouthwash and two cups of water. Hook up the hose and spray off the whole plant, inside and out. It is best to do this in the evening or early morning to avoid damage from the scorching sun.
Use the same plant wash to get rid of the white cotton-like bugs on your prickly pear cactus called Cochineal. A quick search on the Internet will reveal the many uses for this insect from fabric to food dyes. Yes—”all natural” food dyes—yuck!
Weed
Use Roundup or boiling water to spot-kill any weeds that pop up after the rain.