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This Month in Your Garden
AUGUST |
Roses |
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Perennials and Shrubs |
As far as perennials and
shrubs are concerned, gardening in
August is rather simple. It’s just a
matter of keeping everything watered, fed, tidied up
and enjoying the summer yourself.
Container plants may need watering everyday,
but there are steps you can take to reduce the
amount of water they require to survive. Polymer
crystals that retain water mixed in the soil, double
potting, repotting into a bigger pot or even just moving
the pot into a shadier location are all considerations
during the hot months to reduce a plant’s dependence
on daily watering to survive.
Plants that are in the ground should be
watched for signs of stress to determine when they
should be watered. If they need watering more than
once a week, there might be a problem. The plant’s
roots may be too close to the surface due to frequent
and shallow watering. Is there at least a two- or
three-inch layer of mulch on the ground around the
plant? If not replenish it now. Or the plant may be
getting too much sun. Full sun in a garden that gets
to 78 degrees during the heat of the day is a lot different
than full sun in a garden that gets to 98 degrees
in the heat of the day. Plant labels and books
deal in generalities and as gardeners we need to take
our own microclimates into consideration.
When watering on slopes, it is easy to create
a situation where most of the water is running down
the slope in little streams instead of soaking into the
soil. Setting up sprinklers to water in short intervals
at a time so the water has time to soak in between
cycles is an effective solution. It is also a good idea
to create water basins around shrubs on hillsides to
allow enough water to collect and provide a deep
root soak for the plant.
Other than watering, it is a good idea to feed
perennials and shrubs that are blooming now to keep
them going strong.
And then of course there is always deadheading.
Agapanthus, daylilies, Shasta daisies, coreopsis,
buddleias, penstemon, geraniums, coneflowers, yarrow,
hydrangea, salvia, lavender, and this month the
list goes on forever.
If you water, feed and then deadhead your garden
in August, it will reward you by continuing to
look good throughout the summer and into the fall! |
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Fruits and Vegetables |
August heat can be brutal on
vegetables, but there are ways to cool them down
and minimize heat stress. First, verify that your
crops are getting adequate water by continually
checking all emitters and verifying soil moisture. It
is also a good idea to have your sprinkler system
backed up with a battery in the event of power outages.
A beach umbrella, or shade cloth suspended
over supports, can help beets, chard and lettuce
crops fare better in the heat, and a good cover of
mulch works as a cooling element on all plants.
Vegetables grown in pots will need more water
on hot days and those grown in dark, plastic
buckets can be double potted to keep the root zone
cooler. Simply place the bucket into a lighter colored
container with good drainage, one with a diameter
at least 1” wider than the original to allow
for air circulation.
Water is critical for corn (Zea mays) this
month, especially for full kernel development as the
ears are forming. Suckers often develop at the base
of corn stalks, but are not a problem. The Master
Gardener Handbook recommends leaving them on
the plants as they have been shown to actually increase
yield. Corn is high in carbohydrates, but you
also get folic acid, thiamin, niacin and fiber too.
Flavor will be at its peak if harvested 2-3 weeks after
silks first appear. Since corn matures faster in
hot weather, be watchful and harvest when the husk
is still green, the silk dry brown and the kernels full
size to the tip of the ear. Pick mature ears early in
the morning when the sugar content is highest and
before heat builds up (which causes more rapid conversion
of that sugar to starch). Refrigerate if not
using immediately in order to hold the sugars.
Bring to room temperature and boil it only 3 minutes,
to enjoy this best-loved of summer vegetables.
If you wish to make one more planting of corn, do
so before August 10, and you may have a delicious
fall picking.
There are pests that often plague corn, so be
watchful and use insecticidal soap if aphids appear
on tassels. Corn earworms begin developing in the
whorl of the plant and feed on developing silk and ears. Mineral oil, applied with a medicine dropper,
just inside the ear tip, 3 to 7 days after silks first appear,
is an organic preventative. Use at least 20
drops per ear for it to be effective. If birds attempt
to get your crop use a scarecrow, dressed in light
clothing that will move in the breeze. A mylar balloon,
anchored at a height just above the corn is another
deterrent. Either one should be moved about
your corn patch every couple of days. |
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