August is the time to reap the harvest of all the hard work and labors of love you have put into your garden. The days are warm and dry. The nights will begin to cool by the end of the month. Pull up a chair, pour some sweet tea, and take in the beauty of the sunflowers and fresh tomatoes. Have more than you can eat? Preserve them, share with your neighbors or donate them to a food bank. Even though our nights are beginning to cool, there is still a lot that can be done to keep the season going.
Maintenance
- Continue to maintain watering, deadheading, and harvesting.
- Keep a watchful eye out for damaging insects.
- Remove plants that are past their prime to make room for cool season crops.
- Plant crops like peas, broccoli and kale.
Trees and shrubs
- Prune summer blooming shrubs that have finished their bloom. Do not prune spring blooming shrubs. Their bloom for next year is already set.
- Hold off on pruning trees until the weather cools.
- Give trees extra water if they are heat stressed.
Lawn Care
- Over seed bare spots in mid to late August.
- Keep lawn height 2.5 inches or higher for a thick healthy lawn. This will also help with weed prevention.
Fertilize
- All plants will benefit from a weekly treat of a kelp based foliar fertilizer. To prevent burning, be sure to fertilize in the early morning hours or in the twilight hours.
Happy Harvest!
Gardening is more than a lifestyle to me, it is my passion. After 25 years in landscape design, I still spend every moment I can nurturing my garden, watching it grow and sharing my harvest. Whether it is vegetables or flowers, I hope I will encourage everyone of you to get outside, enjoy the fresh air, and get your hands dirty. Let's grow together. Happy Gardening!