Your main tasks for this month begin
with the letter W. Weeding and
watering. Both tasks are pretty
self-explanatory. However, I feel the
need to explain them to some extent. It is important to stay on top of the
weeds. If you let them get ahead of you
and they go to seed, you are going to have hundreds more to deal with this fall
and next spring. Spraying weeds in
landscape beds with an herbicide such as Roundup is one of the easiest ways to
rid of weeds. When using herbicides be
sure to read and follow all label directions thoroughly. They are written for your protection. Generally, it is best to pull weeds that are
growing in and immediately around your desirable plants, and spray those that
are “in the open”.
As far as watering goes, it has been
an extremely tough moisture year, so slow deep watering at the base of
desirable trees and shrubs on a weekly basis is very important. Try to
eliminate drought stress on your plants.
Weak plants open up avenues for disease and insects to overcome. The drought we are experiencing actually goes
back to spring of 2011. Do you remember
the very wet and cool spring of 2011?
Boy, I do. Well we went into a
dry summer, than a dry fall, and then we essentially had no snow this past
winter and than a very dry spring of 2012.
Our water table is very low. So
please take care of your desirable plants with slow soaking waterings. If you have questions, do not hesitate to
give us a call.
Bugs, they really bug me, and some
of them can really mess up your plants.
Before you grab that bottle of insecticide and run out and spray every
bug in sight, it is important that you identify the bug that is bugging
you. Most insecticides can’t tell the
difference between a beneficial insect like a honey bee and the destructive
spider mite. Therefore, it is important
that you know what bug you are trying to kill and the best method to do
it. If you collect some samples of your
bug to bring in to be identified, please put them in a Ziploc bag and seal it
before bringing it in. Once we ID your
pest, we can tell you the best way to control it.
Mowing the lawn is another task that
continues in August. Due to the usually
hot and dry conditions that are the norm in August, you may be able to space your
mowings further apart. It is also
beneficial to let the grass grow longer to help shade the roots.
If you are thinking about a new
addition to your landscape this fall, now is the time to talk to your favorite
landscape designer. Your designer can
discuss your needs with you, design the changes or new additions, and get you
on the schedule for a fall installation.
This spring if you tried your hand
at seasonal vegetable or square foot gardening, here are a few ways you can
enjoy a fall garden. Carry Tomatoes,
Peppers and Basil over in your fall garden.
Direct sow Beets, Radishes, Peas, and Spinach now where other spring
crops such as Broccoli and Cauliflower have come and gone for this year. It is best to replant nursery starts of
Broccoli and Cauliflower, and not sow them from seed this time of year.
Last but not least, take care of
yourself. In the heat that is referred
to as August, it is easy to over exert yourself. Drink plenty of fluids and rest in the shade
as needed.
See you next month……….in
the garden
Sandi Hillermann
McDonald
