While the list of
gardening tasks for August is shorter than in many months, there
are still ongoing tasks to perform in the garden. The hot
temperatures of mid summer make it tough to spend much time
working in your garden, so take advantage of any cooler days to
take care of grooming and weeding. Right now, your primary
concern will be assuring an ample supply of water for your
plants. Weed control is also very important, because with the
warmer weather and increased watering, weed seeds will germinate
and grow faster, and mature to the point of producing more
seeds. Take advantage of your spare time to keep the weeds
cultivated out of all parts of the garden.
Here are a
few August gardening tasks and projects that you can do to help
keep your garden looking it's best for the rest of this season.
Watering the garden
Watering can be the
biggest task this month particularity if the weather gets hot.
Vegetable gardens, most flowering plants, and the lawn all need
about one inch of water every week to keep them green and
looking nice.
Be sure to water thoroughly, and deeply each time you
water. When possible, do your watering in the morning or early
afternoon so the soil has a chance to warm up before the cooler
evening hours set in. Deep watering will induce the plant's
roots to grow deeper, where they are less likely to dry out, as
well as the added benefit of anchoring the plant into the ground
better. Light, surface watering actually wastes water, because
the water never actually reaches the root zone of the plant, and
the moisture rapidly evaporates from the top inch of soil. The
best way to tell if your plants are receiving enough water is to
take a trowel or shovel and dig down a few inches. The soil
should be moist at least 3 or 4 inches deep to insure that the
water is reaching the root zone of the plants. Of course, if you
planted drought resistant plants in your garden, you won't have
to water as often, but the principal of deep watering still
applies.
Be sure to check the hanging
baskets and container grown plants every day during hot
weather and about every second day on moderate summer days.
Don't just check the surface... Push your finger an inch or two
into the soil to be sure there is adequate moisture below
throughout the root area. Water them thoroughly each time you
water, but be careful not to overwater them.
Take out a few minutes to pick off the
old dead flowers on your annuals, as well as the spent flowers on
perennial plants. A little time spent on grooming the plants will
make a big difference in the overall appearance of the garden. By
removing the spent flowers, the plants will not go into the seed
producing stage and should continue to flower longer into the
season.
Perennial and biennial plants can be started from seed sown
directly into the garden this month or next.
Container grown perennials, shrubs and trees can be planted this
month. Always take time to properly prepare
the soil by mixing generous quantities of peat moss, compost
and processed manure with your existing soil.
Fall blooming Crocus should be planted this month, to give you an
extra week or two of flowers after the main garden plants have
finished for the year.
Spring flowering perennials can be divided and transplanted this
month or next. Be sure to do this during the coolest part
of the day and water the plants thoroughly after
transplanting.
Prune
your hybrid roses in late August to promote the most fall
blossoms. Remove about a third of the vigorous growth. Any stems
that cross each other should be removed, as well as those that are
in the center of the plant. Weak, spindly canes and any damaged by
black spot fungus should be removed. Except in colder regions,
roses should be fertilized through the end of September. Maintain
a spraying schedule to control insects and disease.
Now is the time to start your fall and
winter vegetables. Plant starters or seeds of green onions,
carrots, beets, lettuce, spinach, radishes, and winter cauliflower
directly into the garden early this month.
Enjoy the harvest of your homegrown fruits, vegetables and herbs!
Contrary to popular belief, a brown
lawn isn't necessarily a dead lawn. Grasses go dormant in times of
drought, but will quickly return to life with the fall rains. If a
lush green lawn is important to you, and you don't mind mowing,
water it regularly, and deeply. If a water shortage is expected,
or you hate tending to grass, you may choose to just let your lawn
go dormant, and water it as seldom as once a month. Raise the
cutting height of the mower. Taller grass cools the roots and
helps to keep the moisture in the soil longer.
Late this month Poinsettias
and Christmas cactus should be brought back indoors and you should
begin preparing them for Christmas flowering.
Poinsettias
are short day plants. Although they will eventually bloom, if you
want the plants in bloom for the holidays they must be kept at
about 65 to 70 degrees, and subjected to at least six weeks of 14
hours of total darkness per day (mid to late September). This may
be accomplished by placing the potted plant in a closet or
unlighted room, or by covering the plant with black cloth, black
plastic over a frame or a cardboard box.The plant must then be
returned to the light each day and given a minimum of 4
hours of direct sun, or 10 hours of bright light. The application
of a 0-10-10 fertilizer this month and again next should help
encourage the development of flower buds, then feed your plant
every 2 weeks with a high nitrogen fertilizer once color has begun
to show.
Christmas cactus needs the same general care, with the exception
that they require cooler temperatures of about 50 to 60 degrees.
Continue to watch for insect
or disease
damage and take the necessary steps to control the problem.
Warmer and drier weather means it will be necessary to water and
mist your house plants more often.
Odds and ends
Keep the weeds pulled, before they
have a chance to flower and go to seed again. Otherwise, you will
be fghting newly germinated weed seed for the next several years.
Weeds in the garden are harmful because they rob your plants of
water and nutrients, harbor insects and diseases, and, on occasion
grow tall enough to shade your flowers and plants. Change the
water in your bird bath regularly, and keep it filled. Standing
water is less healthy for the birds, and may become a breeding
ground for mosquito larvae.
Continue to watch for insect, slug
and snail, or disease damage throughout the garden, and take
the necessary steps to control the problem.
