August Gardening Calendar Week 1

Ornamentals

• Continue spraying roses that are susceptible to black spot and other fungus diseases.
• Annuals may appear leggy and worn now. These can be cut back hard and fertilized to produce a new flush of bloom.
• Deadhead annuals and perennials as needed.
• Divide oriental poppies now.
• Feed mums, asters and other fall-blooming perennials for the last time
• Roses should receive no further nitrogen fertilizer after August 15th.
• Powdery mildew on lilacs is unsightly, but causes no harm and rarely warrants control, though common rose fungicides will prove effective.
• Madonna lilies, bleeding heart (Dicentra) and bloodroot (Sanguinaria) can be divided and replanted.
• Divide bearded iris now. Discard old center sections and borer damaged parts. Replant so tops of rhizomes are just above ground level.
• Prune to shape hedges for the last time this season.

Lawns

• Zoysia lawns can receive their final fertilizer application now.
• Apply insecticides now for grub control on lawns being damaged by their activity.

Vegetables

• Compost or till under residues from harvested crops.
• Sow seeds of beans, beets, spinach and turnips now for the fall garden. Spinach may germinate better if seeds are refrigerated for one week before planting.
• Cure onions in a warm, dry place for 2 weeks before storing.
• Broccoli, cabbage and cauliflower transplants should be set out now for the fall garden.

Fruits

• Prop up branches of fruit trees that are threatening to break under the weight of a heavy crop.
• Protect ripening fruits from birds by covering plants with a netting.
• Continue to spray ripening fruits to prevent brown rot fungus.
• Thornless blackberries are ripening now.

Miscellaneous

• Soak shrubs periodically during dry spells with enough water to moisten the soil to a depth of 8-10 inches.
• Once bagworms reach full size, insecticides are ineffective. Pruning off and burning large bags provides better control.
• Spray black locust trees now to protect against damage by the locust borer.

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