Home » Gardening » Jobs » August

Gardening Jobs for August

Compost should be watered during dry periods so that it remains active.

Prune only to retain the shape. Do not prune spring-flowering shrubs such as azaleas and rhododendrons.

Mid-August through September is a good time to transplant any shrubs that you've purchased with root balls wrapped in burlap. Make sure you get them in the ground two to three days after purchase. Do not fertilize until the second year, when the feeding roots have become established.

Lawns or bare spots reseeded with grass now will have a chance to get established before winter sets in. Water often and mulch with hay.

In colder regions, houseplants that have been outside for the summer should be brought in at the end of this month. A sudden cold spell will be too much of a shock for them to survive. This is also a good time to take cuttings.

You can still enjoy garden flowers indoors. Sow these annuals inside: sweet alyssum, dwarf marigold, browallia, ageratum, and nasturtium. Grow them in a moderately cool (60 degrees F), sunny window.

Plant fall-flowering bulbs now.

Two or three leaves should be left when cutting gladiolus, so that the bulbs can ripen.

This is the month for transplanting Oriental poppies.

Rock-garden plants should be checked to see if they need thinning. Overcrowded plants will not stay healthy or attractive.

Sow these perennials outdoors for next spring: aquilegia, Phlox paniculata, digitalis, centaurea, and primrose.

Hardy lily bulbs may be planted in the ground and left to overwinter outdoors.

Cut back the flower stalks of perennials that have finished blooming. Cut delphinium flower stalks to the ground, and a new, though smaller, flower stalk will develop. The flower will survive the coming cold days and even light frosts.

Lift, divide, and replant Japanese and Siberian irises soon after bloom. Transplant them to places where they will have "wet feet but dry knees."

If you notice a gap in your perennial bed between spring and fall blooms, visit a local nursery to see what's in bloom there and ask the experts for advice on what to plant.

The vegetable garden is likely to require daily harvesting now. Cucumbers, squash, tomatoes, eggplant, and peppers should be picked as soon as the fruits are ready. This not only captures the best flavor, but it also makes way for new fruits.

Maximum flavor of herbs for drying is achieved by cutting them just before their flowers open.

Make sure that potatoes are not escaping into the sunlight. Hill or mulch them if they are.

Trenches of new asparagus beds should receive their final filling in this month.

Remove dead pea vines, bolted lettuce, and other plants that have gone by and add them to the compost pile. If they show signs of disease, however, burn them.

Separate melons from the ground with a thin board to prevent decay or damage from wireworms.

Cut out raspberry and blackberry canes that have just finished fruiting.

Most perennials outgrow their containers and require repotting every two or three years.

Keep harvesting your fruits and vegetables every couple days to encourage production into the fall.

Dig up your potatoes once the vines have died and the tops turn brown.

Harvest cantaloupe when the stem easily separates from the fruit.

Share the bounty of your garden with friends and those in need!

Ripen tomatoes on the vine, not the windowsill; put fallen green tomatoes in a brown paper bag with an apple.

Check your local nursery for fall-blooming plants, such as mums and asters.

Fertilize roses (last time this year).

Don't mow your grass too short during hot weather.

Continue to weed before the weeds go to seed.

Japanese beetles? Handpick and drop in a jar of detergent and water.

This is a great time to plant evergreen trees and shrubs, such as pines, spruces, and firs, because the plants will have time to develop their roots before the winter conditions.

Keep planting fall vegetables, such as lettuce, turnips, collards, kale, radishes, beans, spinach, and beets.

If there are dry spells, remember to water your plants and shrubs thoroughly to prevent drought.

Cut down raspberry canes.

Check your plants for any insect or disease damage and treat when necessary.

Remove any old plants that have stopped producing to help eliminate insects and diseases from your garden.

Remove any dead flowers from plants to encourage new growth.

Dig up and divide day lilies that have finished blooming.

Order spring-blooming bulbs at the end of the month for fall planting.

Check out local plant sales for great deals!

Start your fall vegetable garden by planting broccoli, Brussels sprouts, Chinese cabbage, carrots, collards, lettuce, and other cool-season vegetables that will winter over.

Remove old vegetable plants that have stopped producing; this will help eliminate pests and diseases from your garden.

Beware of caterpillars, aphids, spider mites, and other insects in the garden. Treat them as needed.

Stay on top of weeds; don't let them go to seed.

Deadhead spent flowers; this may encourage new blooms in September.

During these warmer months, raise the mowing height to 2.5 to 3 inches.

For Bermuda lawns, water one inch per week.

Check the mulch around your plants; if there is little or no mulch, make sure to put a 3 to 4 inch layer to conserve moisture.

Divide and transplant iris, peonies, and other spring blooms as they go dormant.

Plant new perennials, shrubs, and trees; they have a better chance to establish themselves during the milder fall months than those planted in the spring.

Order your spring-blooming bulbs.

Be sure to regularly water your houseplants and potted plants. Use a water-soluble fertilizer so that the plants do not lose vital nutrients. Do not let houseplants dry out.

Pick your annuals and perennials frequently to encourage more flower production.