A stunning dahlia garden in my neighbourhood.
Garden Chores for August
A sunflower wearing a bee.
In This Issue
August Lawn Care - Ants Love Summer - In the Veggie Garden - It's Tomato Time - Winter Veggie Gardening
Improve Soils with Cover Crops - Plants Taking a Powder - When Plants Wilt - Watering Tips & Techniques
Summer Bugs - Beetlemania - Slugs & Snails - Critters & Bugs in the Garden
Pruning in August - Dead Flowers & Collecting Seeds - Epsom Salts & Tomatoes & Roses
Composting - Water for All - Pollinators & Hummingbirds
August Garden Stars - August Garden Chores - Amanda's Garden Channel
Plant of the Month: Lilies
Improve Soils with Cover Crops - Plants Taking a Powder - When Plants Wilt - Watering Tips & Techniques
Summer Bugs - Beetlemania - Slugs & Snails - Critters & Bugs in the Garden
Pruning in August - Dead Flowers & Collecting Seeds - Epsom Salts & Tomatoes & Roses
Composting - Water for All - Pollinators & Hummingbirds
August Garden Stars - August Garden Chores - Amanda's Garden Channel
Plant of the Month: Lilies
Trumpet flower, Campsis radicans, is beautiful but aggressive woody vine
Fellow Gardeners..
Is there room for me Cocoa?
Hello Fellow Gardeners,
Gardening in August is often a hot and sweaty experience, so all the more reason to grab a cool drink and sit in the shade. All work and no play is a typical gardener’s experience as we tend to look at what we must do instead of admiring the lovely flowers, listening to birdsong and enjoying nature. Gardens are bodacious, bold and beautiful this month as dahlias, gladiolus, callas and other summer beauties strut their stuff. It’s time to enjoy your summer garden before plants pass their prime as it will be autumn before you know it. A nice comfortable place to sit and a good view to lazily admire all flora and fauna is an essential . In my back garden, I have the view, but not the seating. I did have a rather uncomfortable bistro set but that was needed elsewhere. It has become apparent that the lack of seating in the back garden is very inconvenient. I can't sit and admire the view (while trying to ignore all the weeding, deadheading and pruning I have yet to do - argh!) because there is not comfy spot to sit. I need one in the potager veggie garden and the other on the raised bed along the fence. These strategic locations will enable me to see the gardens from two points of view. Now the issue is trying to find the perfect bench and bistro set. I’m on the lookout and hope to find something soon before the summer is no more. Enjoy your August garden and may the weather be kind to us all. Cheers, Amanda 
The back garden retaining wall is not a comfy seat.
August Plant of the Month
Lilies
A regal lily.
Lilies are the star of summer gardens. Here's a quick guide to the more popular types of this beautiful flower.
To learn more click on Lilies. Amanda's Garden Video
|
Subscribe!Don't miss an issue!
Click on the picture to subscribe.
Take the guess work of what to do in the garden each month with The Garden Website.com. Learn what to do, how to do it and when with a free subscription to the The Garden Website.com.
Water Restrictions
|
August Garden Stars
Pink Japanese anemone, Anemone tomentosa ‘Robustissima’, herbaceous perennial, 4ft, sun, part shade. Zones 5 to 9. Click on pic for more.
|
Gladiolus, summer bulb, 2’-6’, fragrant blooms August, Sept., sun. Zones 7 to 10, use as annual or store over winter.
|
Pampass grass, Cortaderia selloana, herbaceous perennial, ornamental grass, 8-10' x 4-6', leaves have sharp edges, sun, drought tolerant. Zones 8 to 10.
|
Bear's breeches, Acanthus mollis, herbaceous perennial, 3’-5’ x 2-3’, sun, part shade. Zones 7 to 10. Click on pic for more.
|
Purple coneflower, Echinacea purpurea, herbaceous perennial, 15” to 18” x 12” to 16”, sun, part shade, butterflies. Zones 4 to 8.
|
Sneezeweed, Helenium autumnale, up to 30", sun, attracts bees, butterflies, hummingbirds. Zones 4-9. Click on the pic for more.
|
Hillside Black Beauty bugbane, Actaea (Cimicifuga) simplex 'Hillside Black Beauty', part shade, shade, 4ft. flower spikes. Zones 4 to 8.
|
Mountain ash, Sorbus aucuparia, deciduous tree, 20-40' x 10- 20', white flower clusters, sun. Zones 5 to 6. Click on pic for more.
|
Bella Bellissima shrubby cinquefoil, Potentilla fruticosa, deciduous shrub, 3’-4’ x 4’-5’, sun, part shade. USDA Zones 3 to 8.
|
Stargazer lily, Lilium orientale, hybrid oriental lily, summer bulb, sun, fragrant, 3 ft., 6” to 8” flowers. USDA Zones 3 to 9.
|
Goldsturm black-eyed susan, Rudbeckia fulgida 'Goldsturm', herbaceous perennial, 2', sun, part shade, Zones 4 to 9. Click on the pic for more.
|
Purple shamrock, Oxalis triangularis papilionacea, perennial bulb, part shade to shade, 6"-12" x 12"-24", attracts butterflies. Zones 6 to 11.
|
Peachie Keen agastache, A. 'Peachie Keen', herbaceous perennial, 2’x2’, sun, light shade, hummingbirds, bees, butterflies. Zones 5 to 9.
|
Garden phlox, Phlox paniculata, herbaceous perennial, sun, part shade, 2’ to 4’. Zones 4 to 8. Click on the pic for more.
|
Bee balm, Monarda didyma x fistulosa, herbaceous perennial, 2'-4' x 3', sun, light shade, hummingbirds, butterflies. Zones 4 to 9.
|
Joe-Pye Weed, Eupatorium maculatum, herbaceous perennial, pollinator plant, 68”-72” x 26”, -30”, partial sun. USDA Zones 4 to 8.
|
Pretty Petticoat hybrid bearded tongue, Penstemon ‘Pink Petticoat’, herbaceous perennial, 18-24” tall & wide. Sun, part shade. Zones 4 to 9.
|
Persian silk tree/mimosa, Albizia julibrissin, deciduous tree, 16-52', fragrant, sun. Zones 6 to 9. Click on pic for more.
|
‘Bobo’ hydrangea, deciduous shrub, 2-3’ x 3-4’, white flowers age to pink, part to full sun. Zones 3 to 8. Click on pic for more.
|
Leopard plant, Ligularia dentata, herbaceous perennial, 3-4’ x 2’3, part to full shade, moist soils, summer flowers. Zones 3 to 8.
|
Rose of Sharon, Hibiscus syriacus, deciduous tree-like shrub growing to 12 ft, Zones 5-8. Best in full sun. Click on the pic for more.
|
August Garden Chores
Please note that underlined text are linked to another page on this website or another website. Most of the pictures are also linked and will redirect you if you click on them.
Star's Favorite Dahlia is in full flower this month.
|
Veggie gardens need extra TLC this month.
|
August harvests make for happy tummies!
|
Visit Your Garden
Summer is at its peak so dahlias, glads and other hot flora are at their prime while others have seen better days. Deadheading, supporting floppy plants, weeding, watering, inspecting for bugs and diseases are tasks that never seem to end. In a way it’s a good thing though as it gets us to take the time to not just assess our gardens, but to enjoy the loveliness of summer.
Summer is at its peak so dahlias, glads and other hot flora are at their prime while others have seen better days. Deadheading, supporting floppy plants, weeding, watering, inspecting for bugs and diseases are tasks that never seem to end. In a way it’s a good thing though as it gets us to take the time to not just assess our gardens, but to enjoy the loveliness of summer.
August Lawn Care
Keep the grass longer in the summer.
|
Avoid leaving clumps of grass on the lawn.
|
Chafer beetle damage.
|
Weeds thrive in dried out lawns.
|
This 'scalped' lawn has been cut too short.
|
Although watering lawns is banned in Metro Vancouver this summer, it doesn’t hurt to beg the heavens for an inch of rain every week. Lawns that are not watered become weedy and prone to grubs including chafer beetles, sod webworms and leatherjackets. If you live where watering lawns is allowed, give them at least an inch a week. Water in the morning so the grass has the resources to survive the heat and summer conditions. Watering at night also contributes to lawn diseases such as leaf blight.
Avoid mowing the lawn too short, as this promotes shallow roots and attracts lawn grubs. For healthy grass, keep it about 3 inches high and remove no more than one-third of the blade each time you mow. Leave short clippings on the lawn if they don’t clump they are a good source of nitrogen and other nutrients. Wait for September to fertilize. Click on the following links for more info: Lawn Grub Control - Lawn Care Basics - Lawn Maintenance Schedule - Mossy Lawns - Lawn Reno Seed & Sod - Lawn Alternatives
Avoid mowing the lawn too short, as this promotes shallow roots and attracts lawn grubs. For healthy grass, keep it about 3 inches high and remove no more than one-third of the blade each time you mow. Leave short clippings on the lawn if they don’t clump they are a good source of nitrogen and other nutrients. Wait for September to fertilize. Click on the following links for more info: Lawn Grub Control - Lawn Care Basics - Lawn Maintenance Schedule - Mossy Lawns - Lawn Reno Seed & Sod - Lawn Alternatives
Roses in August
Roses need TLC this month.
|
Cut rose canes just above a node or leaf.
|
Cut roses just above a leaf with 5 leaflets.
|
Remove black spot infected leaves from the ground and the plant.
|
High phosphorous fertilizer has a high middle number.
|
Keep roses well-watered during the summer to prevent ants from building nests in their roots. Cut off dead flower clusters just above an outward facing leaf that has 5 to 7 leaflets. This also applies when cutting roses for flower arrangements. For stems without foliage, cut canes back by ¼ to just above a node or side branch. For more on pruning roses click here. After each flush of blooms water well then fertilize with kelp meal, seaweed extract or fish fertilizer to promote healthy growth and more blossoms. Follow up watering thoroughly. Enrich the soil with an inch or two of compost mixed in around the roots. To promote more blossoms, apply a high phosphorous fertilizer (middle number highest ex: 6-8-6).
Ants Love Summer
Borax mixed with sugar kills ants in and out of the nest.
|
Diatomaceous earth is an effective & non-toxic pesticide.
|
An ant nest at the base of a rose bush.
|
Ants love to make nests in dry soil along driveways, inbetween pavers, as well as the garden where the soil is dry. An effective way to kill ants is to mix 3 parts sugar or honey to one part borax. Sprinkle the powder or globs of the tainted honey around plants. Another option is to make a paste by mixing in a few drops of water. Place it where they travel and on their ant hills. The ants will carry the back to the colony for the larvae to eat. Reapply as needed. Other options include liquid ant baits and diatomaceous earth. Use numerous strategies at once to ensure control. Apply a mulch to the soil to retain soil moisture and don’t forget to keep plants watered.
In the Veggie Garden
Delicious garden delights!
|
Wait for green peppers to turn colour like these cool black ones.
|
Pick beans before they start to bulge with seeds.
|
Vegetable Gardening
It’s time to harvest tomatoes, peppers, corn, eggplants (aubergines), beans, broccoli, cauliflower, kale, chard, zucchinis and other summer veggies. Harvest crops in the morning after the dew has evaporated and plants are dry. Zucchinis are best when small, the same goes for beans, but wait for green peppers to ripen and turn colour. To learn more about picking at the peak of perfection and how to harvest click Harvesting.
It’s time to harvest tomatoes, peppers, corn, eggplants (aubergines), beans, broccoli, cauliflower, kale, chard, zucchinis and other summer veggies. Harvest crops in the morning after the dew has evaporated and plants are dry. Zucchinis are best when small, the same goes for beans, but wait for green peppers to ripen and turn colour. To learn more about picking at the peak of perfection and how to harvest click Harvesting.
Onions, Garlic, Shallots & Potatoes
Cure garlic by hanging in a dry location.
|
Dig up onions when tops yellow & fall over.
|
Rub soil off potatoes before curing.
|
Onions, garlic, shallots: Snip off their flowers as soon as they appear to encourage large bulbs. Stop watering when their leaves yellow. Dig them up once plants wither and die back. Cure in a dry area for a week then store in a dry location.
Potatoes: Stop watering when their stems yellow and wither. After two weeks, dig them up and rub off any soil. Don’t rinse them as it promotes rotting. Store in paper bags or cardboard boxes in a cool and dark frost free area so they don’t turn green. Green potatoes are still edible, just peel off and discard any green skin. Discard all diseased potatoes, but keep any that were damaged during harvest. Just eat them asap and eat any that were damaged during harvesting as soon as possible. For more click on Potatoes
Potatoes: Stop watering when their stems yellow and wither. After two weeks, dig them up and rub off any soil. Don’t rinse them as it promotes rotting. Store in paper bags or cardboard boxes in a cool and dark frost free area so they don’t turn green. Green potatoes are still edible, just peel off and discard any green skin. Discard all diseased potatoes, but keep any that were damaged during harvest. Just eat them asap and eat any that were damaged during harvesting as soon as possible. For more click on Potatoes
Homegrown Bush Beefsteak tomatoes are huge!
|
Give tomatoes what they need.
|
Blossom end rot.
|
Uneven watering leads to split tomatoes.
|
Tomatoes blight.
|
Homegrown Tomatoes: It’s tomato time. They do well when they receive the care they need, which is water, food, sun and space. Too much shade and/or too much nitrogen results in a lack of flowers, therefore fruit. Inconsistent watering causes split fruit, while blossom-end rot is from too little calcium and inadequate watering. Brown, withered, wilted and distorted lower leaves combined with unsightly blemished fruit is a blight. It’s a prevalent tomato disease this time of year.
Tame unruly tomatoes and hasten ripening by cutting stems off just above a cluster of fruit. Remove excess growth but cutting off suckers, preferably when they are small. Speeding up Tomato Harvest. For more information on growing and taking care of tomatoes check out the following links: Tomato Troubles - Taming Tomatoes - Tomato Tips - Saving Tomato Seeds
Tame unruly tomatoes and hasten ripening by cutting stems off just above a cluster of fruit. Remove excess growth but cutting off suckers, preferably when they are small. Speeding up Tomato Harvest. For more information on growing and taking care of tomatoes check out the following links: Tomato Troubles - Taming Tomatoes - Tomato Tips - Saving Tomato Seeds
Epsom Salt on Tomatoes & Roses
Epsom salts benefit roses & tomatoes.
|
Epsom salts promotes tomato ripening.
|
Rose colours are more intense with Epsom salts.
|
Both tomatoes and roses benefit from Epsom salt as it assists with the absorption of nutrients, intensifies foliage and flower colours whilst speeding up the ripening of tomatoes. It contains magnesium sulphate, a micronutrient that plants need in small amounts. Use as a foliar spray or as a soil drench. Mix 2 tablespoons of Epsom salts in one gallon of water. Don’t spray plants in full sun as it will damage the foliage.
Avoid putting seeds in the compost.
|
Turn compost piles often.
|
Always top the compost pile with torn newspaper, soil or dried leaves.
|
Composting: Add veggies scraps, non-weedy and seedy plants to the compost. Avoid adding cooked food, rice, bread, meat, fat and other animal products to prevent bad odours and rodents. Cover with a brown layer (torn newspapers, dried leaves, soil) to deter critters and fungus gnats. To learn more about composting and trouble shooting click on Composting.
Time for a Drink: It’s a tough time for wildlife including butterflies and bees. Help them get through the summer by placing shallow dishes of water in the garden. Add some flat rocks, pebbles and sand for them to rest on. Birdbaths not only provide a place for birds to cool down and have a drink, and they provide an attractive garden feature.
Time for a Drink: It’s a tough time for wildlife including butterflies and bees. Help them get through the summer by placing shallow dishes of water in the garden. Add some flat rocks, pebbles and sand for them to rest on. Birdbaths not only provide a place for birds to cool down and have a drink, and they provide an attractive garden feature.
Start Your Winter Veggie Garden
Use starter plants for late season planting.
|
Winter grown kale tends to be sweeter and tastier.
|
Swiss chard is cold hardy.
|
Purchase starter plants at your local garden centre to get a jump on autumn and winter veggie gardening. To start plants from seed make sure you read the seed packets for suitable candidates and for sowing instructions. Winter hardy crops include arugula, beets, lettuce, endive, pac and boc choi, radicchio, radish, scallions and spinach. For more click on Winter Veggie Gardening.
Improve Soil with Cover Crops
Crimson clover adds nitrogen, fibre & organic matter.
|
Winter peas adds nitrogen to soil and edible peas.
|
Dig in cover crops in spring for a 'green manure'.
|
To improve the soil in veggie gardens, plant a cover crop such as crimson clover, fall rye and winter peas, once crops are harvested. Cover crops grow throughout autumn through to spring, then they cut back and dug into the soil. This builds soil, adds nutrients and essential organic matter. For more information click on Cover Crops.
Plants Taking a Powder
An infected tomato plant.
|
An infected tuberous begonia.
|
An infected zucchini leaf.
|
Powdery Mildew: White talcum powder-like substances on garden phlox, cucumbers, squash, maple trees and many other plants is caused by a fungus called powdery mildew. Before spraying with baking soda or a milk solution, remove severely damaged foliage. To reduce infection, keep water off foliage, and don’t allow the soil to dry out. Note that even after treatment, infected leaves will not become healthy.
When Plants Wilt
Wilted rhubarb suffers from heat stress in this metal planter.
|
Too much sun has burned this hosta.
|
A drought stricken lilac needs a good soaking.
|
Shade suffering plants from hot afternoon sun.
|
Don’t be surprised when plants sag and wilt when temperatures pass 29° C (84.2°F) even if the soil is damp. Cool them down with a drink and provide temporary shade such as an umbrella, a tablecloth on a trellis, a propped up piece of cardboard etc. For a more permanent solution consider installing a pergola, arbour, or a tall plant on the south or west side of vulnerable plants. Alternatively, wait until autumn to move plants suffering from heat stroke to a shadier, cooler location to replace them with more heat loving candidates.
Reduce Watering: Keep soil moist by placing a 3 inch layer of mulch to reduce evaporation Before placing the mulch down, weed and water, especially if it is dry.
Reduce Watering: Keep soil moist by placing a 3 inch layer of mulch to reduce evaporation Before placing the mulch down, weed and water, especially if it is dry.
Watering Tips & Techniques
Attach timers to faucets and hoses to make watering easier.
|
Don't rely on drip systems in summer.
|
Allow water to puddle for a deep soak.
|
Check how far the water has gone.
|
Hand watering is efficient and effective.
|
Use timers: Make your life easier by installing a timer to your outdoor faucet. Attach a garden hose with a sprinkler to the timer. Set the timer so the sprinklers have a run time of at least 45 minutes for each zone, two to three times per week.
Soaker Hoses & Drip Systems: Don’t rely solely on soaker hoses and drip irrigation to keep soil and roots moist. These systems generally take up 90 minutes to emit just an inch of water. Dig down to see how far and how deep the water has spread. If it isn’t going down to the roots, then hand-water or put on the sprinkler, then check the soil again.
Deep Long Soaks: Inadequate water leads to shallow roots that dry out easily, which quickly succumb to heat and drought. You may think you are giving plants an adequate amount, but you should really check. Use a trowel or a shovel to dig down to see how far it has gone down. When hand watering, allow the water to puddle a number of time before going to the next plant. Since dry soil sucks away any available moisture, water the entire area in between the plants. This keeps the ground wetter longer.
Soaker Hoses & Drip Systems: Don’t rely solely on soaker hoses and drip irrigation to keep soil and roots moist. These systems generally take up 90 minutes to emit just an inch of water. Dig down to see how far and how deep the water has spread. If it isn’t going down to the roots, then hand-water or put on the sprinkler, then check the soil again.
Deep Long Soaks: Inadequate water leads to shallow roots that dry out easily, which quickly succumb to heat and drought. You may think you are giving plants an adequate amount, but you should really check. Use a trowel or a shovel to dig down to see how far it has gone down. When hand watering, allow the water to puddle a number of time before going to the next plant. Since dry soil sucks away any available moisture, water the entire area in between the plants. This keeps the ground wetter longer.
Avoid watering at the end of the day.
|
Don't let fruiting plants dry out.
|
Brown leaves on this cedar are from drought stress.
|
Time of Day: Water in the morning as plants are active during the day, but they are ‘resting’ in the evening. Consider it their breakfast as it gives them energy to suffer the slings and arrows of the day’s environmental conditions. Watering in the evening also encourages diseases, plus slugs and snails love to feast on the wet foliage.
Watering Flowering & Fruiting Plants: When plants are flowering fruiting, they are technically pregnant so make sure they are receiving adequate amounts of water and food. This is especially critical for tomatoes and other vegetables as well as roses, shrubs, vines and trees.
Watering Flowering & Fruiting Plants: When plants are flowering fruiting, they are technically pregnant so make sure they are receiving adequate amounts of water and food. This is especially critical for tomatoes and other vegetables as well as roses, shrubs, vines and trees.
A droopy katsura tree needs water.
|
Backward leaves are a sign of drought stress.
|
Don't forget to water city trees.
|
Apply water along a plant's dripline, not against the stems.
|
Water Trees, Shrubs & Hedges: Don’t forget to water all the plants in the garden including camellias, rhodos, azaleas and street trees. Brown, crispy leaves, especially at their edges (margins), ones that curl inwards, droop or show their backsides are signs of drought distress. If woody plants do not receive supplemental water during the summer year after year, they will eventually decline and die.
Rock mulch doesn't retain soil moisture quickly develop weeds.
|
Organic mulch is available at garden centres.
|
Egg water is rich in calcium.
|
Saving water: Don’t salt the water when boiling veggies, pasta, rice and eggs as you can use it to water your plants. It’s good stuff as it contains beneficial plant nutrients. When we are lucky to get a summer shower, direct the rainwater from the gutters to downspouts into rain barrels. Note that most municipalities offer rain barrels to the public. Collect ‘grey water’ in a bucket when you shower, bail the water after a bath, recycle dirty dishwater by placing a wash basin in the sink. To learn more, click on Drought Gardening.
Getting Buggy With It
Cabbage white caterpillar droppings on a cauliflower.
|
Caterpillar droppings & damage on a lily.
|
Thuricide only kills caterpillars.
|
Don't use Thuricide near butterfly gardens.
|
Summer Bugs: As plants struggle with the heat and dryness of summer they become prey to plant eating insects. Inspect both sides of plant foliage and at leaf axils, where the leaves meets the stems as that’s where insects hide.
To control caterpillars, use the Eco-friendly bactericide, Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt, Thuricide). It only affects caterpillars so avoid using near butterfly gardens. Stink bugs become a problem when the weather is hot and dry. Wear rubber gloves to plop them in a cup of soapy water or just squish them. They don’t bite, nor sting but they do ‘stink’ when touched and squished.
Don’t know what’s eating your plants? Go out into the garden at night with a flashlight to catch slugs, snails and other nocturnal plant eaters in the act. Plop them in a cup of salty, soapy water if you’re not too squeamish.
To control caterpillars, use the Eco-friendly bactericide, Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt, Thuricide). It only affects caterpillars so avoid using near butterfly gardens. Stink bugs become a problem when the weather is hot and dry. Wear rubber gloves to plop them in a cup of soapy water or just squish them. They don’t bite, nor sting but they do ‘stink’ when touched and squished.
Don’t know what’s eating your plants? Go out into the garden at night with a flashlight to catch slugs, snails and other nocturnal plant eaters in the act. Plop them in a cup of salty, soapy water if you’re not too squeamish.
Beetlemania
Japanese beetle damage on a bean leaf. Click on pic for more.
|
Stink bug on a black-eyed susan. Click on pic for more.
|
Stink bugs have turned this pepper inedible.
|
Grow tansy next potatoes and other vulnerable crops.
|
Beetles are Here: Beetles turn foliage into lace as they eat the tissue between the veins of the leaf. Handpick beetles and place them in a cup of soapy, salted water and/or neem oil or pyrethrin. Plants are more susceptible to beetle attacks when they are suffering from the heat and drought. Reduce their stress by providing them with adequate water. To deter them plant onions, garlic, rue, tansy, parsley, thyme and other fragrant herbs. Rotate crops next year to further deter infestation. For more info click on Japanese beetles or Ten-lined June beetles.
Mollusks in the Garden
Slugs or snails have damaged these gladiolus leaves.
|
Slugs love hostas!
|
A snail decides on a salad for dinner.
|
Copper is a non toxic solution for mollusks.
|
Critters & Birds in the Garden
There are ways to deter deer in the garden.
|
A cloche protect plants from animals as well as insects.
|
Protect fruit from birds & critters with foil tape.
|
Furry Faces: Like people, animals love fresh fruit and veggies. Keeping them away is often quite difficult with some produce ultimately being eaten by a furry face. To prevent cats and other critters from digging, place a few inches of straw, fallen leaves, newspapers, or wood chip mulch on top of the soil. Scare away birds and critters by tying shiny reflective tape on trees, and Whirligigs around the garden. Another option is to cover the crops with floating row covers or a cloches. For more click on Critters in the Garden.
Pruning in August
Prune wisterias in summer.
|
Thin fruit so they don't touch.
|
Cut off all suckers at their base.
|
Prune hedges this month.
|
Cutting Plants Back: It’s not a good idea to cut back wilted, heat suffering plants as they might not recover. Water plants thoroughly, especially after pruning and feed with a high nitrogen plant food, kelp, fish fertilizer and/or compost. Refrain from pruning spring flowering plants, such as forsythias as they have already set their flower buds.
Prune: Tame unruly wisterias, grapes and fruit trees to promote more flowers/fruit. Remove suckers, watersprouts, spindly stems and anything that’s dead, diseased and broken. Here’s more on Pruning. To make pruning easier, use the correct Pruning Tools for the job. For personalized pruning instruction in your garden click on Pruning Registration. Available in Metro Vancouver.
Pruning Hedges & Conifers: This month is the last month to trim hedges including cedar (arborvitae), boxwood and other hedges. This gives the subsequent new foliage time to harden up before cold temperature arrives.
Prune: Tame unruly wisterias, grapes and fruit trees to promote more flowers/fruit. Remove suckers, watersprouts, spindly stems and anything that’s dead, diseased and broken. Here’s more on Pruning. To make pruning easier, use the correct Pruning Tools for the job. For personalized pruning instruction in your garden click on Pruning Registration. Available in Metro Vancouver.
Pruning Hedges & Conifers: This month is the last month to trim hedges including cedar (arborvitae), boxwood and other hedges. This gives the subsequent new foliage time to harden up before cold temperature arrives.
Dead Flowers & Seeds
Deadhead dahlias to keep them blooming.
|
Remove dead flowers from shrubs.
|
Only remove 1/4 of growth.
|
A flowering lettuce plant.
|
Home-grown lettuce seeds.
|
Store seeds in envelopes.
|
Remove dead flowers: Clean up the garden, promote more flowers and prevent volunteer seedlings by cutting off the dead flowers from shrubs, perennials, annuals and summer bulbs. Wait until spring to deadhead lavenders as birds love their seeds
Collect Seeds: Pick them when dry and brown and store them in paper envelopes in a frost-free, dry place. Label with collection date & name. For more click on Collecting Seeds. Suitable plants to collect seeds from include hollyhocks, sunflowers, marigolds, sweet peas, peas, lettuce, carrots and beans.
Flowers for Pollinators: Daisies and other simple flowers attract the most pollinators, especiallt bees and butterflies. Don’t harvest all your non-fruiting veggies, allow them to flower. Radish, lettuce, carrots, onions and other veggie flowers are pollinator magnets. For more ways to help pollinators click here.
Collect Seeds: Pick them when dry and brown and store them in paper envelopes in a frost-free, dry place. Label with collection date & name. For more click on Collecting Seeds. Suitable plants to collect seeds from include hollyhocks, sunflowers, marigolds, sweet peas, peas, lettuce, carrots and beans.
Flowers for Pollinators: Daisies and other simple flowers attract the most pollinators, especiallt bees and butterflies. Don’t harvest all your non-fruiting veggies, allow them to flower. Radish, lettuce, carrots, onions and other veggie flowers are pollinator magnets. For more ways to help pollinators click here.
A Weedy Subject
I grow great weeds!
|
Dislodge seedlings before they take hold.
|
Horticultural grade vinegar is an effective eco-friendly herbicide.
|
Weeding: No matter what the weather or climate, unwanted plants will grow wherever they please. Make it easier to pull them out of the ground by wetting the soil first. To prevent them from spreading their seeds, pull them up before they flower and set seed. To further reduce their spread, don’t put seedy weeds in the compost. To control weeds with a herbicide, use organic types such as fatty acids, horticultural grade vinegar etc. Add a few drops of liquid dish soap to the spray bottle to help it adhere. Reapply at least every 7 days. Protect surrounding plants with cardboard and follow the instructions to the letter. Avoid Weed Block fabric as it does not deter weeds as they just grow on top of it and it impairs soil and plant health. For difficult to eradicate weeds such as bindweed and horsetails click here.
Water For All
Birdbaths not only attract birds, they are a nice garden feature.
|
Water invites beneficial insects into the garden.
|
Shallow dishes of water are a lifesaver for many.
|
Don't neglect ponds & other water features in your garden.
|
Let's Have a Drink: The lack of rain during the heat of the summer affects all living things, not just plants. It's a difficult time for birds, butterflies, bees, dragonflies and all kinds of wildlife, especially ones with babies to provide for. Help them get through the summer by placing shallow dishes of water in the garden. Add some flat rocks, pebbles and sand for them to rest on. Birdbaths not only provide a place for birds to cool down and have a drink, they provide an attractive garden feature.
Ponds & Water Features: To keep the water clean, thin out plant growth and remove any leaf litter, algae and other organic debris. Replenish water that has evaporated in ponds and water gardens.
Ponds & Water Features: To keep the water clean, thin out plant growth and remove any leaf litter, algae and other organic debris. Replenish water that has evaporated in ponds and water gardens.
Pollinators & Hummers
Bees love leek flowers.
|
Borage flowers are ideal for pollinators.
|
Pieces of ripe fruit attracts butterflies.
|
Kale flowers are loved by many pollinators.
|
Hummingbird devour nectar on hot days.
|
Flowers for Pollinators: Bees, butterflies and other pollinating insects prefer simple flowers where they can easily access nectar and pollen. It just so happens that many vegetable plants fit the bill perfectly – if you allow them to flower. These include lettuce, spinach, carrots, radishes, chard, dill, kale and fennel. For more ways to help pollinators click here.
Keep Hummingbirds Humming: Keep feeders filled with a fresh and continuous supply of fresh nectar as the hotter it gets, the hungrier they become. Clean feeders before refilling by soaking them for 30 minutes in a solution of 1 part vinegar to 2 parts hot water, or 1 part bleach to 9 parts hot water. Rinse thoroughly and allow to dry before refilling them with nectar. Use ¼ cup white sugar to 1 cup boiled water. Only use white sugar and allow it to cool before adding to the feeder.
Keep Hummingbirds Humming: Keep feeders filled with a fresh and continuous supply of fresh nectar as the hotter it gets, the hungrier they become. Clean feeders before refilling by soaking them for 30 minutes in a solution of 1 part vinegar to 2 parts hot water, or 1 part bleach to 9 parts hot water. Rinse thoroughly and allow to dry before refilling them with nectar. Use ¼ cup white sugar to 1 cup boiled water. Only use white sugar and allow it to cool before adding to the feeder.
|
|
|
THE GARDEN WEBSITE INDEX
Click on the links below to be redirected.
for the tropical Gardener
While working in Florida as horticultural consultant, it became apparent that there was a need for a book on tropical shrubs. There are so many wonderful shrubs to choose from, so I wrote a reference book to make the selections easier. Ornamental Tropical Shrubs includes pictures in full colour and information about the plants in point form. So if you live in the tropics and subtropics and need a reference book on tropical shrubs, or you just want to have a look-see click here.
|
|
Copyright 2017 The Garden Website.com, Amanda's Garden Consulting Company - All Rights Reserved