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