August

Landscaping Tips for the Month of August

Planning:

• Order spring- flowering bulbs for fall planting
• Assess areas in the garden which may need additional planting
• Prepare a landscape plan for fall planting of trees and shrubs
• Continue to take garden notes and /or photographs to plan future plantings

Chores and Maintenance:

• If rain is still lacking continue to practice water-wise horticultural techniques
• Determine which plants are most important and water them first
• Allow lawns to go dormant; they will green up again when rain returns
• Remove weeds before they set seed
• Mow lawns regularly to keep grass at 2in. height
• Spot seed to renovate existing lawns between August 15 and September 15
• De -thatch and aerate existing lawns to promote root growth
• Continue to aerate and moisten compost pile to speed decomposition
• Continue to deadhead annuals and perennials to encourage continuous bloom
• Continue to check for insect pests and treat accordingly
• Continue to remove any fallen leaves and debris which can harbor insect pests and disease organisms
• Continue to apply deer repellent
• Cut flowers for drying: yarrow, strawflower, gomphrena, cockscomb, etc.
• Put up hummingbird feeder

Planting:

• Continue to propagate spring-flowering perennials
• Continue to propagate herbs from new growth and transplant into pots for winter use
• Divide bearded Iris and discard any borer-damaged parts
• Plant late season annuals like ornamental kale and cabbage for fall color
• Plant out seedlings of cool vegetable plants for fall harvest
• Sow seed of late harvest vegetables such as carrots, beets and turnips
• Plant out seedling biennials for next year’s bloom
• Plant broad-leaved and needle-leaved evergreens from late August through October 15

Pruning/Fertilizing:

• Continue to deadhead roses
• Prune summer-flowering trees and shrubs after flowering is complete
• Lightly prune overgrown hedges and deciduous shrubs
• Cut back leggy annuals
• Feed needle and broad-leaved evergreens with iron chelate if leaves are yellowing
• Fertilize roses to encourage last new growth and hardening off before first frost
• Continue to fertilize annuals and container plants each month
• Continue to fertilize chrysanthemums weekly until buds show color

Indoors:

• Shape and pinch back houseplants before returning them indoors
• Check houseplants for insect pests and treat as necessary before bringing them in