Continue
deadheading annuals and perennials. You can divide
and transplant perennials once the temperature begins to
drop a little.
Keep watering gardens and lawns.
Water long enough to wet several inches down into soil. Do
not water again until the top 1-2 inches dries out.
Deep
water your trees by putting a soaker hose around the drip
line and let it run overnight.
Woody perennials, shrubs and trees
begin to harden off for the winter. Do not fertilize until next
year.
Yellow
jackets are very active this month. Be prepared with wasp
and yellow jacket sprays for troublesome pests. But yellow
jackets are actually beneficial for your garden and yard, so
if they aren't bothering you, don't harm them.
Overripe fruit on a plant will
prevent the smaller fruit from developing. Harvest
vegetables as they ripen.
Squash that produces blossoms
but no fruit may mean lack
of pollination. Hot weather, heavy irrigation or lack of
bee activity may be the cause.
Vegetable gardens need consistent
and correct watering now to avoid blossom end rot and knobby potatoes.
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If
necessary, renew mulch around vegetable plants. It will help
keep soil temperatures cooler and prevent evaporation.
Harvest
beans, cucumbers, corn, tomatoes, carrots and summer squash.
You can dig potatoes when the tops begin to yellow. Take care
not to overwater potatoes for the rest of the season.
Feed
strawberries in mid-August for good fruit production next year.
Prune
trees now until the leaves start to drop. Contact Master
Gardeners or a certified arborist for information on proper
pruning techniques.
Continue
to feed, water and deadhead annuals. Containers need
more frequent watering during hot weather.
Late
August is an excellent time to begin lifting and separating spring flowering
bulbs (tulips, daffodils, etc.)
Don't
spray pesticides during hot weather. If you must spray, do it in
the late evening hours after the temperatures drop. This includes insecticidal
soaps.
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