Water deeply when you irrigate and in the morning only to avoid fungal problems. Thrips and spider mites are active on avocado, crotons, mango, copperleaf and other large-leaf plants. Blast water under the leaves or use a soap spray on them. Do not plant under the eaves where these insects can really proliferate with no rain to wash them off. Annuals can be chewed off at ground level by cutworms.
Fungal root rot can attack impatiens, begonia and vinca in wet areas.
Remove all suckers and water sprouts from fruit and shade trees. Prune roses back by no more than one-third. For example, native plants such as goldenrod and beebalm were collected by early English horticulturists and sent back to the motherland to be bred and hybridized. Now we are getting improved versions of our American weeds and paying premium prices for them. Funny how an old weed suddenly jumps in social stature after obtaining British cachet.