To me, August is the month that epitomizes summer. The days remain long, there is the daytime chant of the cicadas with the crickets producing the evening chorus, color is ample in the flower garden and the vegetable garden is in full swing. For me, August still brings back fond memories of summer vacation from school and working alongside my parents in their garden. Hopefully, you are able to share your garden and help create some fond memories for others as well. Continue to take good notes of your endeavors so that you can jog your memory next year for creating a better garden!
Things to do:
• Continue to cut the lawn as growth permits, maintaining the higher cutting height of 3” to reduce the stress on the turf.
• August marks the end for any aggressive pruning of woody plants. Heavy pruning during August and September will result in a vigorous production of new shoots that will not become ‘hardened off’ or mature by the first frost, resulting in not only their death, but also potential death of the plant. Removal of broken branches or light pruning/shaping is still healthy for the plant.
• Many annuals in containers begin to look tired come August. For some, a light pruning along with weekly fertilizing and daily watering will breath in new life. For others, it is simply time for replacement. For autumn, consider Salvia leucantha (Mexican Bush Sage) and Leonotis leonurus (Lion’s Ear) as options to the typical garden ‘Mum’ for containers.
• Although still 2 months away, you may wish to start taking cuttings of some annuals for rooting, repotting and over wintering for next years garden. If rooting fails, there is still plenty of time to get new cuttings.
• For the vegetable garden, bush beans, peas or other crops that have finished producing should be removed, the soil amended with compost, and the area replanted with beets, carrots, beans or any other crop that bare mature fruit within 70 days or by October 15, the first average date for frost in NJ. Near the end of August, leafy crops such as Arugula, Spinach, and Lettuce can be planted as the evening temperatures consistently drop into the 60’s and upper 50’s. Always note where certain crops are planted to ensure that the locations are rotated, reducing the chance of insect or disease populations increasing in the soil.
• Continue to deadhead most perennials, roses and annuals to promote new flowers. For some, such as Echinacea, you may wish to leave the seed heads, since they are a food source for Goldfinches.
• Cut back Irises and inspect for borer damage in the rhizome. If the clump is large and root bound, lift, divide and replant during August. The same is true of Peonies, but be careful to leave the growth buds at or near the surface to ensure blossom production.
We are always happy to answer any of your gardening questions. Please submit them to
rugardens@aesop.rutgers.edu or for additional plant information visit the Rutgers Gardens web site at www.rutgersgardens.rutgers.edu.
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