August Landscape Checklist
1. Harvest produce: Check tomatoes daily; pick berries and grapes as they ripen; harvest squash every 2-3 days to keep production up; and it’s still a great time for cucumbers and peppers.
2. Water deeply and thoroughly as needed during the heat-check hanging baskets and patio containers to assure they don’t dry out completely.
3. Avoid pruning or fertilizing during hot weather. Plants have trouble recovering during times of heat stress. Wait 3-4 weeks.
4. Deadhead annuals for best flowering, remove older plants that have stopped producing. They are homes for pests/disease and compete with actively producing plants.
5. Snap off onion flowers to direct energy into bulb production.
6. Check for pests consistently and keep plant debris cleaned up to minimize the chance for disease.
7. Pull weeds with a vengeance. If you remove them before they release seeds, the seed bank in your soil will reduce each year, meaning you have fewer weeds each year. Throw them in the trash, don’t use for compost!
8. Plant peas, green onions, carrots, beets, lettuce, spinach, radishes, and cauliflower directly into the garden for a fall crop. Be sure to plant twice as deep as you do in spring to keep them from drying out during germination.
9. Herbs and flowers should be collected for drying/preserving during mid-morning, after dew has dried, but before the sun heats everything up.
10. It’s the start of the season to be taking semi-hardwood cuttings for propagating new plants.
11. Prune roses for maximum blooms this fall.
12. August is the time to get started on lawn renovation. Thatch, aerate, overseed, topdress with compost and fertilize late in this month and throughout September. Grass that germinates now will have plenty of time to establish before hard winter freezes trigger full dormancy.
13. Spray glyphosate herbicide (Roundup and similar brands) under fence lines to minimize weedeating and on walkways/patios to kill grass/weeds in the cracks.
14. Direct sow perennials and biennials this month or next. Late in the month is an appropriate time for planting/transplanting perennials, shrubs and trees. Properly prepare planting holes for best results from plants and thoroughly water them after transplanting.
15. Plant fall crocus to add to late season color in your garden.
16. Start picking out bulbs to plant next month.
17. Modify your lawnmower to it’s highest setting during hot weather such as is prevalent in August. The longer blades shade the roots, preserving moisture and feeding deeper roots which in turn can draw more moisture from deep in the soil.
18. Be sure to take time to intentionally enjoy your garden this month. A large glass of tea is a great excuse to sit back, relax, and appreciate the rewards of the work you've put in thus far.
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