Photo by Chris Parfitt Now that August is here, chances are good that it is becoming hot and possibly dry in your area. Most plants will need more frequent watering to deal with the excessive heat unless it is raining regularly in your region. Some of your plants will be struggling, while those that love the heat will be thriving. If you are like me, you may be struggling with the heat, too, and may dread the idea of getting out in the garden! Unfortunately, there is still work to be done. Watering and Fertilizing. Watering becomes especially crucial in the hot months of summer. Use a rain gauge to measure how much rain you are getting and water your plants as needed; if plants are starting to droop, you need to water. Container plants especially need frequent watering - the smaller the container, the more frequently the plants will need to be watered. At this time of year, I check my containers every day and my gardens every three days if it hasn't rained. Plants like tomatoes and peppers also need plenty of water to produce their delicious fruits. Even lawns and newly planted trees and shrubs will need water in the absence of rain - and don't forget your bird baths. Wildlife will welcome the water in this heat. Remember to water plants deeply at the roots and to water in the early morning if possible; this lessens the amount of water lost to evaporation and prevents fungal and bacterial diseases in plants. If you haven't already mulched your gardens yet, you may want to so that you don't have to water as frequently. Remember to stay on schedule for fertilizing plants.
Photo by Pete
Harvest and Plant More By now, you should be harvesting vegetables from your garden daily; picking mature fruits daily allows plants to direct energy toward producing more fruits. You can start digging up garlic, onions, and potatoes as well. You should be planting successive rows of plants like beans, squash, cucumbers, sunflowers, and herbs. Pull old cool-weather plants like lettuce and spinach if you haven't already, and you will make more room in your garden. Later this month, sew seed for fall crops like broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, and kale or start seeds indoors. In zones 6 and higher, you can wait until August to start fall seeds. If you have a cut flower garden, plant successive rows of annuals like zinnias and cosmos. You may want to consider planting a cover crop in bare areas of your garden - cover crops are turned back into the garden and enrich the soil.
Photo by daryl_mitchell
Cut Back, Deadhead, Pinch, and Prune This week, you will want to pinch back chrysanthemums and asters for the last time. Continue to remove dead flowers from plants; coneflowers and black-eyed Susans are two flowers in bloom now that greatly benefit from deadheading. Use your fingers or pruners to pinch off old flowers so that the plant's energy can focus on making new blooms. Also, It is time to cut back annuals that are getting leggy, like petunias and impatiens - shear back one third of the plant for renewed vigor and growth. Prune summer flowering trees and shrubs right after blooming. Of course, you should keep weeding for optimum plant growth and health.
Photo by Everyday Growing
Go Shopping In the August heat, this is my favorite gardening task for the month! Now is the time you will find great deals on plants, since the gardening season is winding down. Buy some heat-resistant and drought-tolerant plants like coleus, pentas, and portulaca to perk up your August garden. Hanging baskets, perennials, and annuals will likely be marked down, and you may also find deals on seeds. It's a good time to consider what you want to grow for fall and order seeds or plants in time if needed. In fact, it is a good time to consider what you want to grow next year to take advantage of deals now. I encourage you to consider growing something new and unusual!
Chad Kremp
