August Garden Tasks
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Master Gardeners working on identifying plants at the Indy Garden
Perennials, Annuals & Bulbs
- Plant fall crocuses now and crown imperials from now until October.
- Add several inches of mulch to Asiatic lilies
- This will keep the roots cool, protect them from heat and deter weed growth.
- Lay the finished flower stalks of foxglove on the ground where you want new plants to grow or sprinkle the seeds from the dried pods.
- Continue to keep the soil around your Shasta daisies and ferns moist but not wet
- Ferns may become dormant if they get too dry.
- Renew annuals by pinching leggy growth and deadheading.
- Fertilize with a liquid fertilizer such as fish emulsion to encourage blooms through the Fall.
- Continue to prune perennials to keep in a desired space and for air circulation.
- Pick fresh flowers for indoors
- This will also encourage more blooms on most perennials.
- Sow seeds for next summer's bloom (Hollyhocks, Poppies, Larkspurs, Shasta Daisies, Columbine, Purple Coneflower, Cardinal Flower)
Trees, Shrubs & Groundcovers
- Keep the grass short around your fruit trees; grass deprives the trees of nitrogen.
- No fertilizing necessary this month.
- Trees and shrubs should not be pruned after August 15th.
Vegetables, Herbs & Fruits
- Gather herbs for drying as they mature
- Pinch the stems of basil regularly to prevent flowering, and harvest about once a week.
- Harvest sweet corn by pulling and twisting downwards.
- Bend over the tops of your cooking onions to prepare for lifting them.
- Harvest peas and broad beans before pods get tough.
- Harvest cucumbers as they mature.
- Start seeds for fall and winter vegetables now.
- Remove suckers and old canes from blackberries and raspberries as they appear
- Harvest berries when they fall off easily.
- Water blueberries, gooseberries and currents often during hot weather.
- Remove all but two runners on strawberry plants. Strawberries will benefit from a feeding of nitrogen at this time.
Lawn & Landscaping
- Cut your lawn and trim the edges regularly.
- Watch out for yellow patches, leaf curl or poor growth; increase watering if you notice these signs.
Watering Tips
- Continue to water outdoor container plants daily, as needed
- Make sure you have provided adequate drainage.
- Water according to the weather; water in early morning to prevent mildew.
- Don't forget to moisten your compost regularly to prevent flies from breeding in it.
- Deep watering is essential this month if drought conditions exist.
Hummingbirds
Ruby-throated hummingbird
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Hummingbirds are drawn by instinct to the color red, but they are more attracted by the shape of the flower—blooms with a long, tubular trumpet. This bloom shape cannot be utilized effectively by bees or wasps, offering nectar heaven just for hummingbirds!
Read more....Attracting Hummingbirds to Your Garden |
