Timely Gardening Tips
August Gardening Tips
SUMMER CARE
The extreme heat of August can stress plants and people. A cool tip to help our green friends make it through until fall is mulching around the roots. Mulch keeps the root zone cooler, conserves moisture and keeps weeds down. All bark cedar mulch is the best to use around trees and shrubs; because of its fibrous nature it stays in place well.
The soil may be mulched and moist but plants can still tip burn and wilt. Heat and wind can take moisture out of the leaves faster than roots can return it. This is especially true of new plantings. Another common issue can be assuming a lawn sprinkler system is giving shrubs and trees enough water. So it is always best to check soil moisture around plants before watering.
FALL PLANTING
Extend the vegetable growing season by keeping existing plants healthy. Fertilize with a light organic fertilizer like Nature’s Source All Purpose Plant Food. Continue spraying for diseases and insects if you’ve had problems. Many vegetables will produce into the fall months if properly fertilized and sprayed.
Another way to lengthen the season is by planting a fall garden. Vegetables which can be planted now for fall harvest include: beans, beets, broccoli, cauliflower, collards, cucumbers, carrots, kale, potatoes, lettuce, mustard, radishes, spinach and turnips. Use granular ferti•lome Gardener’s Special lightly when planting. Plant seeds a little deeper to keep them from drying out or start them in containers in a cooler spot. Try not to overwork soils when planting fall gardens to maintain moisture in the soil.
LAWN CARE
Cool-season grasses are also struggling now. Watch for dry areas and adjust sprinklers to insure good coverage. Hydretain liquid can be a great choice in spots in the turf that tend to dry out.
If your lawn is getting enough water, but is still turning brown, grubs may be at work. Dig under the green grass next to the brown areas and you’ll find these ‘C’ shaped beetle larva. They are small and easy to control now. Apply an insecticide like Dylox, contained in Bio Advanced 24 Hour Grub Killer Plus, and water in well.
Early August is the time to start fall lawn renovation if you need to get rid of bermudagrass. Water and even fertilize the grass to make it healthy so it will absorb the herbicide better. Spray Hi-Yield Super Concentrate Killzall on the bermudagrass. Killzall is non-selective so it will eradicate all the grass in the targeted area. Add Hi-Yield Herbicide Enhancer to make the Killzall the most effective. After 1 week, mow down short and water to green up anything left alive, then 10 days to 2 weeks later spray again. You may need to repeat the process and spray a third time. Once the bermudagrass is dead you’ll be ready to seed fescue in September. Ideal preparation would be to aerate and apply ferti-lome HuMic, followed by several deep waterings.
PESTS
Euonymus Scale - looks like small white flecks all over the stems and twigs of euonymus. The second generation hatches in late August so be prepared to spray then and two weeks later with Hi-Yield Systemic Insect Spray or ferti•lome Indoor/Outdoor Insecticide.
Webworms - these insects form unsightly webs around the ends of branches and feed on the leaves inside. Isolated webs can be pruned off. To spray, first rip open the web then use ferti-lome Spinosad or Hi-Yield Indoor/Outdoor Broad Use Insecticide.
Armyworms - Invade landscapes in large groups and can cause a lawn to turn brown seemingly overnight. The damage can resemble drought damage, but inspection of turf will reveal the larvae. Look for active feeding during early morning or early evening hours. To protect your lawn against armyworm attacks, we recommend the following strategy:
1. Water your lawn thoroughly if it’s dry.
2. Treat your lawn with a recommended product such as ferti-lome Spinosad in liquid form or a granular product such as Hi-Yield Turf Ranger II and be sure to follow label instructions. Do not mow or water your lawn for about 2-3 days after treatment.
