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The Garden Website.com
for 
​August

Amanda's Garden Consulting Company
 'Regale' trumpet lily and marigolds.

August Garden Chores

Helenium autumnale 'Helena Red' sneezeweed,August garden chores,Summer garden chores,waterwise gardening,drought gardening,summer flowers,August gardening,August flowers,learn how to garden,organic gardening
'Helena Red' sneezeweed (Helenium autumnale)
August Introduction - August Plant Combo - August Garden Chores 
August Garden Stars - Plant Police - August Lawn Care - Watering Tips
Wilted Raspberries?- Thirsty Plants? - Harvesting - Summer Pruning
It's Hot! - All About Tomatoes - Winter Veggie Gardening - Take Cuttings 
It's Powder Mildew Season - Planter TLC - Harvesting Spuds - Shrubs After the Flowers 
August Arrangement - Need Help? - For the Tropical Gardener - Plant of the Month: Bear's Breeches

'Chantilly' butterfly snapdragon,Antirrhinum majus,August garden chores,Summer garden chores,waterwise gardening,drought gardening,summer flowers,August gardening,August flowers,learn how to garden,organic gardening
'Chantilly' doesn't look like a snapdragon, but it is.

August Intro

Amanda Jarrett's website
The heat is a good reason to chill out at the beach.
Hello Fellow Overheated Gardeners,
The heat is on!  This summer has been a record breaking scorcher, and to make matters worse, there's been no measurable rain in well over a month. It’s a double whammy for plants, animals, gardeners and farmers alike.​
Some plants have not fared well, as I am sure you have noticed in your own garden. It’s sad to see them suffering. I’ve been spot watering by hand more so than I would like and putting out shallow trays of water around the garden for critters, birds and insects. They need water too.
I have learned to get out there early in the morning, with garden hose in hand. I prefer the mornings as plants don’t suffer from thirst for the entire day and I don’t get eaten alive by mozzies. I swear the little vampires lie in wait for me.
But I digress, it’s so hot and dry that forest fires are raging in British Columbia. Their flames hungrily devour our woodlands and devastate wildlife. It’s no surprise that Metro Vancouver has raised the fire danger rating to extreme. We not just wishing for rain, we are on our hands and knees pleading for a good downpour.  
With that said, not every plant is suffering; the zucchinis are are ecstatic and the tomatoes are euphoric. Roses are absolutely giddy with glee as they pump out flower after flower.  Rose of Sharon, a northern relative of the tropical hibiscus, have never looked so good. If our summers continue to be less temperate and more hot and steamy, we will have to select more heat loving plants in the future.
I do admit that all this sunshine and blue skies is rather nice. And because it’s so hot, relaxing in the shade with a nice cold bevvie is a necessity now, not a luxury to avoid heatstroke! That’s my story, and I am sticking to it.
Stay cool out there.
Cheers,
Amanda

I’d like to give a special shout out to all the brave souls that fight the fires and those that save the animals and give them sanctuary. I perish to think what the world would be like without such courageous, compassionate and kind people.
Thank you for all that you do. 
Stargazer lily,lilium stargazer,summer flowers,august flowers
A white stargazer lily.

Book a Garden ConsultAtion! 

Amanda's Garden Consultation bookings appointments
Need help figuring what to do in your garden? Is your garden more work than it's worth? Amanda will help you make the most of your garden. Make an appointment here for a consultation.

Learn How to Prune Your Plants!

learn how to prune with Amanda Jarrett
What to prune now? How to prune? What tools to use? How far can a plant be cut back? All are great questions. Register here  for Amanda to teach you all about pruning your plants in your garden at your convenience.

Amanda's Garden Blog

August garden chores,Summer garden chores,waterwise gardening,drought gardening,summer flowers,August gardening,August flowers
A basket stuffed with hydrangea flowers.
  • Video: Climbing Rose Deadheading & Training Part 1
  • Video: Climbing Rose Deadheading & Training Part 2
  • New: Watering Tips & Techniques
  • Video: May's Garden 2021
  • Dealing With Drought
  • Types of Roses
  • Easy Roses Do Exist.. Really!
  • Portland's International Rose Test Garden
  • Blog: Easy Vegetable Garden Trellis 
  • Garden & Botanical Tours
  • Blog: Tomato Seedlings to Plants
  • Video: How to Divide Dahlias 
  • Video: How to Plant a Tree
  • Lawns: ​Seeding, Sowing, Renovating
  • Lawn Grub Control
  • Building a French Kitchen (Potager) Garden
  • Tuberous Begonias 101
  • Dahlias 101
  • Growing Potatoes
  • Pruning Shrubs into Trees
  • Lasagna Gardening, Sheet Mulching
  • Tomato Troubles & Soil Solarization
  • Trees That Drip That Sticky Stuff
  • Balcony Bliss
  • One Huge Beetle! 
  • Leaky Birdbaths and Slug Free Strawberries​
  • I Had An Ugly Lawn...​
swallowtail butterfly,organic gardening
A swallowtail butterfly visits a delphinium flower.

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Oooh, Garden Classes! 

garden classes Amanda Jarrett,Fraser Valley Continuing Education
The pruning class is hands on!
For more information click on the titles below to be redirected to the Fraser Valley Continuing Education, held at Credo Christian High School, Langley 
Getting Ready for Fall: Saturday, Oct 23 2021, 9:30 am to 3:30 pm, $59.99
Lawn Alternatives: Wednesday, Oct 13 2021, 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm, $29.99
Lawn Care: Wednesday, Oct 6 2021, 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm, $29.99
Pruning the Right Way: Saturday, Sept 18 2021, 9:30 am to 3:30 pm. Due to it's popularity, it is also being offered on Saturday, Sept 25 2021, 9:30 am to 3:30 pm, $59.99

ladybugs,lady bird beetle,beneficial insect
A ladybug looks for aphids on a lacecap hydrangea.

August Garden Stars

Helenium 'Rubinzwerg' sneezeweed,summer flowers,august flowers
Sneezeweed, Helenium, 30 inches, attracts bees, butterflies and hummingbirds. Zones 3-8.
Hydrangea paniculata 'Grandiflora',peegee hydrangea,summer flowers,August flowers
Peegee hydrangea, Hydrangea paniculata 'Grandiflora', deciduous shrub or small tree, 10’-25’ x 8’-16’, holds blooms from July into winter, sun to part shade, medium moisture. Zones 3 to 8.
Campsis radicans,trumpet vine,trumpet creeper,August flowers,summer flowering vines
Trumpet creeper, Campsis radicans, a deciduous vine, 25' to 40', orange, yellow or red flowers, sun to part shade, attracts hummingbirds, aggressive, produces suckers. Zones 4 to 9.

Echinacea 'Purple Emperor' purple coneflower,summer flowers,August flowers
'Purple Emperor' coneflower Echinacea 'Purple Emperor', prefers full sun, grows to 30 inches, a perennial for Zones 3-9.
Actaea (Cimicifuga) simplex 'Hillside Black Beauty',summer flowers,August flowers
Actea simplex, Bugbane, herbaceous perennial, 3' to 4', part shade to shade, bears 1 to 2ft long fragrant flower spikes. Atropurpurea has purple foliage. Zones 3 to 8.
Mondarda didyama,bee balm,pollinator plants,summer flowers,August flowers
Scarlet bee balm, Monarda didyma, herbaceous perennial, 2'-4' x 3', sun to light shade, attracts hummingbirds, butterflies. Zones 4 to 9.

Albizia julibrissin,Persian Silk tree,August flowering trees,summer flowering trees
Persian silk tree/mimosa, Albizia julibrissin, decidous tree, 16 to 52', fragrant, sun and dry soil. Zones 6 to 9. Click on the pic for more.
Phlox paniculata,garden phlox,summer flowers,August flowers,July flowers
Garden phlox, Phlox paniculata, herbaceous perennial, fragrant blooms July - Sept, sun to part shade, 2’ to 4’, equal spread, attracts butterflies, hummingbirds. Zones 4 to 8. Click on the pic for more.
Buddleja (Buddleia) davidii,butterfly bush,August flowers,summer flowers,butterfly plant,attract beneficial insects
Butterfly bush (Buddleia, Buddleja davidii), deciduous shrub, 4–12’ x 3-8’, June to Sept flowers, attracts butterflies, invasive in many locations. Zones 5 to 9.

Double pink soapwort,bouncing bet,Saponaria officinalis ‘Flore Pleno’,summer flowers,August blooming plant
Double pink soapwort, bouncing bet, Saponaria officinalis ‘Flore Pleno’, herbaceous perennial, 1-2’ x 1-1.5’, sun, fragrant blooms July to Sept, drought tolerant, butterflies. Zones 3 to 8
Inula,fleabane,August gardens,August flowers,summer flowers
Fleabane (Inula spp.) grows to 6 ft depending on variety. Full sun, Zones 3-7. Can be invasive depending on the species and location.
Fuchsia magellanica,hardy fuchsia,August gardens,August flowers,summer flowers
Hardy fuchsia, Fuchsia magellanica, a tender perennial suited to afternoon shade, Zones 6 to 9, grows up to 5 feet.

leopard plant,Ligularia dentata,summer flowers,August flowers
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,flowering summer shrub,summer flowers,August flowers
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.
purple shamrock,oxalis triangularis,summer flowers,august flowers
Purple shamrock, Oxalis triangularis papilionacea, perennial bulb, part shade to shade, 6"-12" x 12"-24", attracts butterflies. Zones 6 to 11.

August PLANT COMBO
for sun

August plant combination,August flowers,perennials for sun,summer flowers
A combination of different cone flowers and sneezeweed are a perfect combo for hot,sunny and dry border.
A nice collection of daisy shaped blossoms are perfect for sunny hot borders. It's a pollinator's paradise as bees and butterflies like to rest on the flat petals as they gather pollen and nectar. The purple flowers are purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea). They surround dwarf black-eyed susans called 'Little Goldstar' (Rudbeckia fulgida var. sullivantii ‘Little Goldstar’. The dappled yellow and reddish 'daisy' is sneezeweed (Helenium autumnal). All are herbaceous perennials that go dormant in the fall and regrow in the spring.

Watering Restrictions

water restrictions for Metro Vancouver
Water restrictions state to water in the morning, not the evening.
For Metro Vancouver, B.C.
Water restrictions start May 1 and end October 15. If you don’t live in Metro Vancouver, contact your local municipality for their watering restrictions.
Residential lawn watering schedule:
Even-numbered addresses: Wed and Sat, 4 to 9 a.m.
Odd-numbered addresses: Thurs and Sun, 4 to 9 a.m.
Trees, shrubs & flowers: Any day from 4 to 9 am for sprinklers, hand watering and drip irrigation. All hoses must have an automatic shut-off device. 
Non-residential (businesses) lawn watering schedule:

Even-numbered addresses: Mon, 1 to 6 a.m., Fri 4 to 9 am.
Odd-numbered addresses: Tues, 1 to 6 a.m., Fri 4 to 9 am
Trees, shrubs & flowers:
Any day from 1 to 9 am for sprinklers, hand watering and drip irrigation. All hoses must have an automatic shut-off device. 
For more information, click here ​

plant police

tree water bags,summer drought
Along a major route, during the heatwave, all the wildflowers were mowed down. Now this once lush alley, is dry, dead and very sad.
I know municipalities and the province cut down all the weeds at the sides of the road, but is this a good practice? The above picture on the left was taken just after two workers mowed and line trimmed the area. This was done in the peak of the heatwave when record-breaking temperatures soared to  38°C (100°F). The grass and all the weeds along the roadside where still green when they were mowed down. Before the mowing and despite the heat, butterflies and bees fluttered among the clover, dandelions, vetch and ox eye daisies. This small riparian area provided food, moisture and sanctuary for all kinds of wildlife. After the mowing, everything was gone and the soil will perish without the shade. If the city is trying to encourage pollinators, especially our troubled bees, and advocates for sustainability and biodiversity, I really don't see the logical sense of mowing down areas along roadsides - unless it is a 'make-work' project. I do hope this practice is changed sooner rather than later.
riparian roadside areas,gardening for pollinators
Before being mowed, the area was lush with flowering weeds, perfect for pollinating insects and other wildlife.

Watering Tips 

Save time watering with these tips. 
waterwise gardening,irrigation,saving water when gardening,efficient water management for gardens
This 3 zone irrigation timer includes an outlet for manual watering.
  • Use timers: To make watering easier and less time consuming, set up numerous hoses on a timer. It’s the next best thing to an underground watering system. Select a timer with numerous ports so you can attach more than one hose onto one faucet. They are easy to set up and available where sprinklers are sold.
  • Watering trees:  Place a hose on trickle for 30 minutes twice a week, or an hour once a week. Don't place it against the tree trunk as the roots are at the dripline (at the edge of the canopy), not the base of the trunk.
  • Watering Street Trees: They are surrounded by concrete and tarmac so they suffer immensely during the summer, so haul out the hose and give them a lovely long drink at least once a month.
  • Tree Water Bags: These bags are available at garden centres. They attach to the tree for a convenient slow and steady flow of water.
  • Reduce watering: Protect the soil and to keep moisture in the ground with a 3 inch layer of mulch. It really does work!
  • Soaker hoses seep moisture into the soil. They are similar to drip systems, as the moisture doesn’t spread far and wide. Place the hoses close together for more effective wetting and cover the soaker hoses with a layer of mulch. ​
  • Need more watering tips and techniques? Click on Watering Tips & Techniques
Picture
A tree water bag is useful for young trees and street trees.
Drip systems: They are a good idea for planters but don’t rely on them to keep plants and soil thoroughly moistened. They only wet a very small area, so they must be placed right next to a plant. Note the pattern of wetness to determine how long they should be kept on and if the nozzles are adequate. There are many nozzles types available so do your homework before you buy. To make drip irrigation more effective, add a good 3 inches of mulch over top of the soil and between plants. 
drip irrigation,drought gardening

Thirsty?

how to tell if a tree needs watering,wilting trees,drought gardening
How can you tell when a tree is thirsty? Wilting is a common symptom, but what about trees – do they have symptoms? Yes they do, but it is more subtle: leaves fold inwards exposing their backsides. Leaf edges turn brown and crispy and eventually fall off. To learn more about drought gardening click here. 
drought stress trees,watering trees during drought,summer tree care
Trees will lose their leaves if they are suffering from drought stress.

All About Tomatoes

growing tomatoes,successful tomato growing,how to grow tomatoes
A harvest of delicious tomatoes.
Taming Tomatoes
How are your tomatoes doing? Are they growing like crazy with stems escaping their confines? Are they so big they have collapsed their supports? Are you afraid of them? Are you worried that if you try to cut them back they will ultimately die? These are all common reactions to overly rambunctious tomato plants. But don’t be afraid. You can tame them, you can cut them back and they will not shrivel up and die if you do it with care. Learn how here. 
tomato fruit splitting,tomato growing,problems with tomatoes
Split tomatoes are a common problem on thin skinned varieties and is due to infrequent watering.
Sick Tomatoes
But what about sad and sickly tomatoes? It’s the time of the year when fungus runs rampant and once healthy plants suddenly collapse into mushy disgusting things. Sometimes it is just their fruit that splits, cracks or becomes deformed. It is so disappointing.  Oftentimes it’s the weather that’s to blame. Couple that with uneven watering, not enough water and/or growing them in the same soil year after year and you’ve got problems. For more click here for Tomato Troubles.
tomato blight,tomato diseases,tomato troubles,sick tomato plants
Late blight is caused by wet foliage due to fog, dew and watering overhead.
Speeding Up Harvests
If you are fed up of waiting for green tomatoes to ripen, there are a few things you can do to speed up the process. 
  • Snip off stem ends just above tomatoes clusters approximately a month before the first frost date in your area. This encourages the remaining fruit to ripen.
  • For determinate (shrub) tomatoes, snip of stem ends just above its cage or other support.
  • Click on Speeding up Tomato Harvest for more. ​
growing tomatoes,speeding up tomato harvests,pruning tomatoes
Cut back tomato stems above a flower or fruit cluster to encourage the remaining fruit to ripen and to tame stems.

August Tomato Tips

how to grow tomatoes,tomato growing,organic vegetable gardening tips and techniques,spacing tomato plants
Space tomatoes at least 2.5 feet apart to prevent diseases and to hasten ripening.
  • Don't prune plants if they are wilting due to lack of water.
  • To tame and to encourage faster ripening cut overly long stems back to a leaf, flowers or a tomato.
  • Pinch out suckers before they get too big and remove any foliage that touches the ground.
  • Water well after pruning.
  • Maintain consistent soil moisture to prevent split fruit and blossom end rot.
  • Keep water off the plant; just apply it to the ground. Thoroughly water the soil around the plant, especially when it's dry.
  • Don't touch plants when they are wet as it spreads diseases.
  • ​Avoid giving tomatoes too much nitrogen. It results in huge plants with low yields and encourages tender growth prone to insects and diseases.
  • Feed hungry, yellowing plants with a liquid fertilizer such as kelp. To supplement the fertilizer mix in some compost for longer lasting and beneficial nutrition. For more on fertilizers click here. 
  • Keep plants properly staked as they continue to grow. Avoid tying stems so tightly it cuts off their circulation.
  • Remove any nasty fruit and foliage ASAP and discard, don’t compost.
  • Harvest ripe crops daily to prevent them from rotting on the plants.
  • It’s best to water in the morning, but water plants as soon as possible if they are wilting. Keep in mind that plants should not be wet at dusk as this spreads diseases big time. 
yellow tomato plants,fertilizing tomatoes,organic fertilizers
Yellow foliage indicates this tomato plant is lacking food.

AugusT Lawn Care

summer lawn care,watering lawns in summer,chafer grubs,lawn grubs
Tenacious weeds don't seem to mind the lack of water, but the lawn certainly does.
  • ​​Water! Apply 1 inch or more of water a week. 
  • Lawns that are not watered are prone to grubs (chafer, leatherjackets, webworms) and weeds.
  • Reset the mower so it cuts the grass at 3 to 4 inches. The longer grass shades the roots, increases root length and provides more food for the grass plants.
  • Mow often so only 1/3rd of the grass blade is cut off at each mowing.
  • Leave clippings on the lawn but only if they are small. Don't leave clumps of grass.
  • Wait until September to seed, sod and renovate lawns. 
  • To learn more about lawns click here.
  • For more on lawn maintenance click here. 
  • Got lawn grubs? Click here to learn more.​
summer lawn maintenance,lawn grubs
Correct maintenance puts an end to lawn eating grubs.

Wilted Raspberries?

raspberry crown borer,wilted raspberries
Inspect raspberry plants for crown borers to ensure a good harvest.
Lack of water may not be the cause; it could be crown borers. Look for brown eggs on leaf undersides during July to September. Remove infested foliage and any wilted stems. Since these pests overwinter, cut back canes that have borne fruit and ones that are wilted. Remove all foliage from the plant and ground. If you notice swelling on the canes, prune beneath the swollen area. If there are wild brambles nearby, cut them back too, as they also are hosts to this pest. 

Summer Pruning

summer pruning,pruning fruit trees,pruning apple trees,pruning vines,deadheading
Apple trees benefit from summer pruning.
Easy On the Pruning: Avoid cutting back perennials, trees and shrubs, when conditions are extreme. The loss of foliage reduces their food intake, causes them injury and stresses them out. It also exposes the tender foliage that was previously shaded, to the sun, which in turn damages them.  
  • Pruning Trees: It’s a good idea to wait until conditions cool, and certainly not during a heat wave to prune trees. It’s not just for the sake of the trees, it’s for all the neighbouring plants that benefit from its shade.
  • Annuals: Deadhead annuals and cut back spindly stems by half. Discard them if they are too far gone.
  • Perennials: Cut back flowering stems of perennial plants to tidy them up and to prevent them from going to seed.
  • Roses: Remove spent flowers and flower clusters. Cut back stems to an outward facing leaf with 5 to seven leaflets, a node or a side branch. Feed and water afterwards.​​ Click here for more on pruning roses. 
  • Fruit Trees: Remove suckers, dead, diseased, overly long branches and ones that are in the way. Prune back side branches of apple trees to encourage fruiting spurs. Follow up with watering and feeding. For more click on Pruning Basics 101.
  • Wisteria: Cut back each side branch to a 2 to 4 buds (nodes). This promotes more flowers as the remaining buds should revert to fruiting spurs in a couple of years.
  • Grapes: Prune back all leafy side shoots back to fruit clusters. For more on pruning grapes click here.
  • Raspberry and blackberry: Cut down canes that have already borne fruit this year.
  • Hedges: Clip hedges, including cedars (arborvitae, Thuja) so their new growth with be hardened-off before frost arrives. 
  • Clematis: Pruning depends on the type of clematis. Click on Pruning Clematis for more.
  • For more click on Pruning Basics 101
Picture
Don’t prune any plant that is wilting from drought and/or excessive heat. Give all pruned plants a drink and feed with fish, kelp or another organic plant food.
pruning roses,deadheading roses,August rose care
Once roses finish flowering, remove their spent flower clusters, water and feed with an organic plant food such as kelp. Pictured is 'Bonica'.

August Garden Chores

Daily Garden Visits: Checking out the garden every day is a good way to stay on top of things. There’s lots to do from harvesting, weeding, deadheading and watering. ​​ 
'Bright Eyes' garden phlox,phlox paniculata,summer flowering perennials
'Bright Eyes' garden phlox might reflower if their spent blooms are snipped off.
  • Deadhead: Cut off dead flowers from shrubs, perennials, annuals and summer bulbs such as dahlias. This keeps the garden tidy and prevents reseeding. Deadheading also encourages compact growth, whilst some plants, like garden phlox, may re-flower. ​
  • Stake: Continue to provide support for top-heavy and tall plants such as dahlias, tomatoes and glads. Don’t forget to remove stakes when they are no longer needed. 
flopping and wilted stems of hydrangeas,weak stem hydrangeas,collapsed hydrangeas
The heavy flowers of a peegee hydrangea are effectively supported by an bamboo expanding fence.
  • Compost: Turn the compost pile and add water if it's dry. Top the pile with a couple of inches of brown (carbon) layer of shredded newspaper or dried foliage to reduce flies, fungus gnats and rodents. If the pile is too wet, mix in shredded newspaper and finish up with a couple of inches of torn newspaper or dried leaves. To learn more click here. 
  • Weed: Water the ground first to make it easier to pull them out. Add 3 inches of wood chips or another organic mulch to prevent more weeds. Do not put fabric under the mulch. 
harvesting garlic,harvest onions,summer harvests
A bountiful garlic harvest.
  • Onions, garlic, shallots: To encourage large bulbs, snip off flowers as they appear (make them into pesto or add to stir fries). Stop watering when their leaves start to yellow. Harvest when their leaves brown. Cure and then store in a dry location.
  • Bolting Veggies: There’s no need to remove lettuce, spinach, beets, radish and other root and leafy crops that have produced flowers – unless you need the space. Their flowers are loved by honey bees, butterflies and other pollinators.
bolting vegetables,kale flowers,flowers for pollinating insects
Allow kale, lettuce, chard, radishes and other leafy crops to flower.

Plant Fall/winter veggies 

winter vegetable gardening,when to start winter vegetables
Kale is a winter hardy plant that will survive for 2 years.
​Arugula, beets, lettuce, endive, pac and boc choi, radicchio, radish, scallions and spinach are some of the plants suited for planting now for harvesting in the fall and winter.​ Sow seeds directly in the ground where there are to grow (Direct seed) or visit a local plant nursery and purchase starter plants. For more on Winter Veggie Gardening click here. 
harvesting seeds,how to harvest seeds from your garden,cranesbill geranium seeds
The ultra cool 'Johnson Blue' cranesbill geranium seeds are ready to collect.
Harvest Seeds: Collect hollyhock and other mature seeds of your favorite plants, including veggies such as peas and beans. Choose brown, mature seeds and pods, as green, unripe ones will not be viable. Gather them when they are dry to the touch to avoid mould and rotting. Store in paper bags or envelopes in a frost free, dry place. Label with harvest date & name. For more click on 
frog,toad,garden for wildlife
Shallow trays of water are appreciated by creatures great and small.
​Birds & Wildlife & Drought: When there is a lack of precipitation, food and water is coveted by all living things. Save the day by adding a birdbath and shallow trays throughout the garden. It’s also a good idea to put some water bowls out for passing doggies when they are on their walks. It’s hot out there.
hummingbirds,feeding hummingbirds,hummingbird nectar
Hummingbirds: When the temperatures rise, they need lots of nectar to keep them a-hummin’. Check your feeders every other day and clean the feeders before adding more nectar. Take the feeders apart and pour out any remaining nectar. Soak for in a solution of 1 part vinegar to 2 parts hot water, or 1 part bleach to 9 parts hot water for 30 minutes. Use bristled brushes to scrub all parts. Rinse thoroughly and allow them to dry before refilling them with nectar: ¼ cup white sugar to 1 cup boiled water. Allow the nectar to cool before adding to the feeder.  ​
butterfly feeding station,pollinating insects,beneficial insects
Entice butterflies with slices of fruit.

It's Hot!

Picture
Leave sunburned leaves on the plant until conditions cool down.
Plants fry in the scorching sun, especially when it is unrelenting over a prolonged period of time. Sunscald appears on exposed leaves that become brown and crispy.
Perpetual wilting is another sign of too much heat. Since you can’t change the weather, the next best thing to do is to shade any suffering plant from the sun. Use an umbrella or a sheet draped over a trellis or screen. Don’t remove the damaged foliage as it will protect the tender foliage underneath
wilting plants,summer drought,waterwise gardening,vegetable gardening
Water thirsty plants as soon as possible.
​Wilting: No matter what time of day it is, if you see a thirsty plant wilting – give it a nice long drink without delay.
wilting plants,protect plants from the sun,shading plants,summer gardening
Keep the sun off suffering plants by shading them from the sun.

Plant Cover Crops

cover crops,crimson clover,when to sow cover crops
Cocoa loves the lush crimson clover ground cover.
It’s really not a good idea to leave a garden bed bare - without any plants or other type of covering. Weeds take over, soil erodes away and nutrients are leached. In the summer, soil bakes in the hot sun and during the winter, freezing and thawing expands and contract the soil as temperatures fluctuate. Flooding is also an issue on bare soil with heavy and/or persistent rains.
Cover crops are an effective solution to control all the ills of fallow (unplanted) beds. Pollinators also love the flowers of cowpeas, fava beans, clover, rapeseed, buckwheat and rapeseed.
​Plant now, once this years’ crops are harvested. Plant from August to late September. The sooner you plant cover crops the better so they are well established before winter. For more on Cover Crops click here.
sowing cover crops in august
Sow cover crops on beds that have been harvested.

It's Powdery Mildew Season

powdery mildew,August gardens,organic control of plant diseases
Powdery mildew has infected this squash leaf.
It’s not uncommon for cucumbers, phlox, tuberous begonias, tomatoes and other plants to become infected with powdery mildew this time of year. It appears as a white powder that eventually destroys plants. To learn how to control this disease click on 

Planter Care

growing plants in containers during summer
Before
summer planter care
After
  • It’s difficult to keep planters looking good during late summer. The heat and dry conditions take its toll. Bedding plants are spent and they need to be cut back, removed and/or replaced.
  • Make your life easier and container grown plants happier by watering them thoroughly and providing them with a drainage tray underneath. This acts as a handy reservoir so water doesn’t drain away.
  • Yellow foliage, lack of vigour and little growth indicates that plants are hungry and need some food. Give the remaining plants a liquid feed of kelp or fish fertilizer or another liquid fertilizer for a quick pick-me-up. Follow up with a granular food to sustain them for a longer period of time.
  • If there's room, add some compost on top of the soil. Cut back any spindly and unhealthy growth from the remaining plants. Remove any dead flowers and seed heads. 
Picture
To reduce watering, place drainage trays under planters to act as reservoirs.

Harvesting Spuds

growing potatoes,organic vegetable gardening,harvesting potatoes
  • New Potatoes: Harvest when plants flower by plucking some out of the soil instead of harvesting the entire plant. To prevent the remaining spuds from turning green, cover them with soil. 
  • Main Harvest: To harvest mature taters, wait for the entire plant to wither and fade away. Don't water for a week, then dig them up with a garden fork or shovel. If you spear a few in the process, eat them straight away and don’t store them.
  • Cure: Brush off excess soil from the potatoes. Place in a dark and dry location to cure for 10 days before storing. Don't subject them to light as they will turn green. Provide good ventilation and a cool temperatures 10 to 16°C (50 to 60°F). 
  • Storing Taters: Rub off any soil, don’t rinse them as you want them to be dry when you store them. Place in cardboard boxes, dark cloth sacs, or paper bags in a cool location, 4 to 7°C (40 to 45°F). Keep them away from frost, and humidity.  A fridge or unheated basement, garage are suitable.
  • For more on taters, click here.

Harvesting Veggies

harvesting vegetables,carrot harvests
Harvest carrots when their 'shoulder's' appear above ground.
Daily visits to the garden are warranted as crops ripen quickly. Harvest in the morning after dew has dissipated, as crops are at their peak of freshness. Pick zucchinis and beans when they are small as are crisper, sweeter and tastier. Green peppers are more flavourful when they mature to yellow, red or orange.  To learn more about picking at the peak of perfection and how to harvest click here. ​  
vegetable harvesting,august harvests,organic gardening
A bountiful harvest.

Take Cuttings

types of plant cuttings made in summer,summer cuttings,herbaceous cuttings
Take cuttings from coleus now as they make great houseplants and you can plant them outside again next year.
Bedding Plant Cuttings: Take cuttings from impatiens, coleus, petunias, geraniums and other annuals. It’s an economical and fun way to brighten up the house during the winter and you’ll some money on next year’s bedding plant purchases. Click on Taking Cuttings to learn how.
​Cuttings from Shrubs, Trees & Vines: Take semi-hardwood cuttings from stems with a woody base and soft green tops ex: hydrangea, camellia, Mexican mock orange (Choisya), California lilac (Ceonothus), heather, hebe, mahonia, lavender, viburnum, magnolia, rhododendron, conifers, jasmine, passion flower. If in doubt, experiment and take as many cuttings from as many plants as you like. Learn more click here.

Shrubs: After the Flowers

deadheading shrubs,summer shrub pruning
Removing the dead flowers from this spirea will promote new stems, not seeds.
pruning Japanese spirea
The same Japanese spirea after deadheading and some light pruning.
Most shrubs look so much better after their dead flowers have been removed. Removing faded blooms not only tidies up a plant, it redirects energy that would be used for seed production into leaves and stems. It also prevents unwanted seedlings from popping up. 

Remove dead flowers by cutting stems to a healthy, robust leaf, a cluster of leaves, a node (bud) or side branch. Angle the cuts to 45 degrees to allow water to run off the severed stems.

​Please note that it’s too late to cut back spring flowering shrubs as you will be removing next year’s blossoms. For more on pruning click here
pruning japanese spirea in summer,deadheading shrubs
Cut back branches to just above a leaf or side stem.

August Arrangement

Lilium,Tanacetum parthenium 'White Stars',August flower bouquet,august flower arrangement
A summer's bouquet of feverfew, bellflowers, dayliies and lady's mantle.
'Catherine Woodbury' daylilies are the centerpiece of this summer bouquet. The star shaped flowers are a feverfew cultivar called 'White Stars'. The chartreuse flowers are those of a lady's mantle. Nestled among them are the blue bellflowers and hosta flower spikes. For more detail and for more monthly arrangements click on Monthly Flower Arrangements

Plant of the month
Bear's Breeches
Acanthus Mollis


bear's breeches,acanthus mollis,acanthus spinosus,Corinthian column order,herbaceous perennial,summer flowers,sun perennials
The striking flowers of bear's britches.
bear's breeches,acanthus mollis,acanthus spinosus,Corinthian column order,herbaceous perennial,summer flowers,sun perennials
Flowers are compared to snapdragons. They are lipped and grow vertically along leafless stems.
Picture
Acanthus spinosus have spikier foliage compared to the mollis species.
bear's breeches,acanthus mollis,acanthus spinosus,Corinthian column order,herbaceous perennial,summer flowers,sun perennials
The fascinating flowers of an Acanthus spinosus.
Picture
Leaves from this Acanthus mollis are deeply lobed and grow up to 3 feet long.
bear's breeches,acanthus mollis,acanthus spinosus,Corinthian column order,herbaceous perennial,summer flowers,sun perennials
Give bear's breeches lots of space so they can be admired for the form, flowers and foliage.
bear's breeches,acanthus mollis,acanthus spinosus,Corinthian column order,herbaceous perennial,summer flowers,sun perennials
Bear's breeches tend to spread under ideal conditions.
Common Name:  bear’s breeches
Botanical Name:  Acanthus mollis
Form:    clump-forming rosette
Family:  Acanthaceae
Genus:  Acanthus
Species:  mollis
Plant Type: herbaceous perennial with tuberous roots
Mature Size:  3 to 5 feet x 2 to 3 feet
Origin:  Mediterranean
Hardiness Zone: 7 to 10
Foliage:  emerge from a rosette, dark green, glossy, deeply lobed, up to 36” long and 12” wide
Flowers: maroon-purplish and white 2-lipped, hooded flowers up to 2” long are surrounded by spiny bracts, borne in vertical rows on erect leafless stems up to 5ft tall in summer
Fruit: one or two brown seeds in a pointed capsule
Exposure:  sun to partial shade, avoid hot summer afternoon sun
Soil:  soil tolerant, dislikes wet soil
Uses:  accent, foundation plant, specimen, formal gardens, woodland edges
Propagation:   root division, seeds
Pruning:  remove flower stalks after flowering
​Problems:  invasive where conditions are favorable

Comments: 
Carl Linneus, the noted botanist and ‘Father of Taxonomy’, first described this historical plant in his book Species Plantarum in 1753. The large, deep green, attractively ornate foliage were the inspiration for Greco-Roman and Classical architecture. This ‘Corinthian’ design was carved into columns, and has been used throughout the ages denoting a classical elegance that is still revered today.
 
Bear’s breeches, Acanthus mollis, makes a bold but elegant and classical statement that never goes unnoticed. Even without its towering snapdragon-like flower spikes, their large 3 foot leaves are very attractive and stand out even when mixed with other greenery. In warm climates, the foliage will stay evergreen, but will go dormant when temperatures dip to below freezing.
 
Although they are soil tolerant, soggy soils promote rot. Lack of flowers are caused by too much shade or from late spring frosts. To protect the crowns and potential blooms, don’t remove their foliage in fall, instead cut them off in spring as new growth emerges.
 
Keep plants away from hot afternoon sun as this may cause wilting. They will also go dormant in summer if they are not watered.
 
Bear’s breeches spread via underground tubers and seeds. This is why it is important to remove the spent flower spikes before they go to seed. Tubers will spread in warm climates and when grown in loose soils. In areas where they are too aggressive, install an 8 inch barrier to confine their roots. This plant is invasive in parts of California, Australia and New Zealand.
 
Other Cultivars and Species:
Acanthus mollis ‘Latifolius’ are hardier, but doesn’t flower as freely as the species and have larger foliage. Zones 7 to 10, 2-2.5′ x 2-3′.
Acanthus spinosus is an alternate species know for leaves with spines along the edges (margins). Zones 5 to 9, 3’ - 4’ x 2’ - 3’.
Acanthus balacanicus, Balcanicus Bear's Breeches, flowers profusely, with white or pale pink flowers, with deep lobes spaced far apart. Zones 7 to 10, 2’ - 4’ x 2’-4’.
bear's breeches,acanthus mollis,acanthus spinosus,Corinthian column order,herbaceous perennial,summer flowers,sun perennials
A Corinthian column at the Getty Villa in Los Angeles, denotes the ornateness of the Acanthus.
bear's breeches,acanthus mollis,acanthus spinosus,Corinthian column order,herbaceous perennial,summer flowers,sun perennials
The lipped flowers are surrounded by spiny bracts.

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for the tropical Gardener

Ornamental Tropical Shrubs,Pineapple Press,Amanda Jarrett,thegardenwebsite.com
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. 


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