August, Dog Days

Well, if you think it has been hot, just wait. For those of us in the South, August finds us inside in the air conditioning - every chance we get. I like to think of August as the final of three hot months and the end of August as the beginning of a hoped-for fall.

For some of my friends in the northern US that holds true, but for those in the deep south, not so much. What do we do while we wait for relief in the weather? We prepare! Like any gardener or farmer, we look to what we can do in the interim.

Here are some suggestions for early morning or late evening tasks during the August month.

1. Pull those pesky weeds. Keeping your flower beds weed-free will pay off and just might get you ‘Yard of the Month!’

2. Trim the dead off of bushes, trees, and other plants that just didn’t make it through the heat. This allows for more growth for the root of the plant and the top growth to flourish.

3. Fertilize and water those areas that are struggling. Keep an eye out for areas that need your attention. Once the hot weather passes, those areas will love you for your TLC (tender loving care).

Now for self-care tips:

1. In between all of this, stay hydrated, drinking plenty of water and other liquids that put water in you.

2. Get plenty of rest/sleep. Most of us can’t tolerate the heat for long and we need to allow our bodies to recover.

3. Enjoy the work of your hands by taking photos of your efforts. Before and after pictures show how your hard work pays off.

   Here is more helpful information from our friends at Pine Lane Nursery in Parker CO.

   For Help in General Landscaping

   • Let wild flowers go to seed

   • If houseplants need repotting, now is the time to do it

   • Watch for powdery mildew on susceptible plants like squash, pumpkins, & garden phlox

   • Prepare lawn for reseeding bare spots

   • Fertilize the lawn with a formula emphasizing Nitrogen, Iron, and Sulfur, like Jirdon Greenmaster Fertilizer formulated for Rocky Mountain soils.

   For help with Shrubs, Perennials & Bulbs

   • Plan for fall bulb planting for spring flowers (tulips, daffodils, hyacinths)

   • Cut back spent flowers and prune for shape

   • Continue to monitor for pests & disease

   • Mid-August is the last feeding time for roses.

   • Weed regularly- remember a weed pulled today means fewer weeds to pull next summer

   • Fertilize perennials, shrubs & trees with an all-purpose, slow-release granular fertilizer

   For help with Veggies, Fruit & Herbs

   • Continue to harvest ripe veggies

   • Pick herbs and dry them for winter use (parsley, basil, thyme, rosemary, chives, etc...)

   • Plant cool-season crops (peas, cabbage, broccoli, spinach, lettuce)

   • If you haven't harvested your garlic do so now and prepare a bed for fall garlic planting

   • As areas in your veggie beds become empty, consider planting a cover crop to improve your soil

   For help with Annuals

   • Continue to fertilize every week

   • Time to plant late-season annuals for Fall color (mums, flowering cabbage)

   • Continue to deadhead to extend your bloom time

   • Pull tired or dead plants from your baskets and replace them with fresh plants to keep them pretty

   For help with Insect Watch

   • Aphids & spider mites

   • Grasshoppers

   • Slugs

   • Zimmerman pine moth

We hope you will use all this helpful information because we believe it will help you enjoy the rest of your summer as we prepare for cooler days ahead.

Until next time, get some rest and be blessed!

Dr. Michele

August 2, 2024