August Horticultural Tasks
By Amy Wright
Well, if July wasn’t hot enough for you, then August ought to do it! At this point, you can coast a little through the heat if you have been diligent with your plant care. Keep an eye on your annuals to make sure that the irrigation is working. Even two days without water can mean death to plants that are used to regular watering. Replacing plants now is nearly impossible as most nurseries are in between their summer and winter plant stock. Deadheading will keep your annuals blooming. Take pictures of your best looking sites and note which plants performed best under our brutal heat conditions to re-use again in the future. Do not apply any chemicals in this heat if possible.
This is not the time to try to establish a new turf area. Watch for damage from mole crickets, beetles, and chinch bugs. Be sure to vary mowing patterns and keep grass cut a little higher now because of the heat.
Heat and drought tolerant work horses of the perennial world are really showing off now. Make note of which perennials performed best. Consider dividing some of these in the fall or spring to use in new areas. Many perennials will get a second bloom if they are deadheaded now, such as Coreopsis, Coneflowers, and Black-eyed Susans. Some daylilies are prone to a disease called rust. This looks like bright orange spots on the leaves. Remove and bag any debris that has this disease to keep it from spreading. There is no cure for it, but good preventative steps will go a long way toward prevention. Do not remove healthy daylily stalks until it is completely dried and comes away freely when pulled on. Don’t be too quick to reach for a chemical to remove caterpillars from your perennials. These are often the caterpillars of butterflies. Birds have babies in their nests right now and are working hard to feed them. Allow them to do some of the work of removing insects.
Ever blooming roses could benefit from a light feeding of a water soluble fertilizer this month.
Little or nothing should be done to shrubs now. It’s a good time to note which shrubs may be needed to be replaced in the fall when planting times comes around again.
August is the last month in which it’s a good time to plant palm trees. Late afternoon thunderstorms are common now and weathermen keep an eye out for hurricanes. Storms can take a toll on trees. Never seek shelter from a storm under a tree. Damaged limbs need to be properly pruned, and monitor trees for any danger from weak, cracked, or diseased limbs. A tree that is suffering from poor health may need to be taken down to prevent damage to property and keep people safe.