FLOWER GARDEN NEWS

GARDEN MENU

AUGUST Summer; While still enjoying the garden August will bring gardeners back into full swing with gardening tasks. This month of August is still full of weeding, watering, staking, grooming lawns, deadheading, and fertilizing. ALWAYS let the weather be your guide, and use this garden calendar as a simple reminder as to what needs to be done in your garden this month. SOIL - Feed the garden with organic fertilizer such as garden compost (composted humus), and leaf mould, or an artificial fertilizer if needed. ANNUALS / BEDDING PLANTS - Keep removing faded flowers from annuals to encourage repeated blooming. - Feed planted annuals if due for fertilizing . - If needed, weed and mulch flower beds. - Watch for signs of pests or disease. -Always water thoroughly! Watch for extreme dry conditions in the warmer temperatures. Sometimes watering daily or twice daily may be needed.   PERENNIALS -Can start to transplant perennials that are in containers to the garden. -Feed summer blooming perennials with a fertilizer if required; following instructions provided. - Remove faded flowers of blooming perennials before they go to seed, and to encourage new growth. - Continue staking perennials that need it., and ones that have become in need of support. - If needed, weed and mulch flower beds. - Watch for signs of pests or disease. -Always water thoroughly! Watch for extreme dry conditions in the warmer temperatures. Sometimes watering daily or twice daily may be needed.   BULBS -Plant Crocus Bulbs this month. - Remove spent leaves and blooms from bulbs that have become yellow. - If needed, weed and mulch flower beds. - Watch for signs of pests or disease. -Always water thoroughly! Watch for extreme dry conditions in the warmer temperatures. Sometimes watering daily or twice daily may be needed.   HERBS - Keep pinching tips of annual herbs to encourage new growth. -Cut herbs for storage and cooking. - Watch for signs of pests or disease. CLIMBERS - Watch for signs of pests or disease. -Always water thoroughly! Watch for extreme dry conditions in the warmer temperatures. Sometimes watering daily or twice daily may be needed.   TREES / SHRUBS -Start to plant new shrubs and trees. - Watch for signs of pests or disease. -Always water thoroughly! Watch for extreme dry conditions in the warmer temperatures. Sometimes watering daily or twice daily may be needed.   CONTAINERS - Remove any faded flowers to encourage repeated blooming. -Can start to transplanting any perennials that you want to keep from the containers to the garden bed. - Feed container plants if needed. - Watch for signs of pests or disease. - Water containers regularly in hot weather. Sometimes watering twice daily may be necessary for  in extreme hot temperatures. VEGETABLES - Continue to weed, weed, weed. -Start to harvest vegetables. - If desired, feed established vegetables following the fertilizer's instructions. - Watch for signs of pests or disease. -Always water thoroughly! Watch for extreme dry conditions in the warmer temperatures. Sometimes watering daily or twice daily may be needed.   FRUITS -Start to harvest fruits, like apples and plums. - Watch for signs of pests or disease. -Always water thoroughly! Watch for extreme dry conditions in the warmer temperatures. Sometimes watering daily or twice daily may be needed.   LAWNS - Feed lawns with a fertilizer for healthy growth. -Weed lawns when needed.. - Watch for signs of pests or disease. -Always water thoroughly and deeply! Watch for extreme dry conditions in the warmer temperatures. Sometimes extra amounts of watering may be required.   GARDENING FUN - Enter a contest at Flower Garden News today! Click here for contest details.   - Use these free printable photos for your own personal use. Use in crafts, framed pictures, journaling, decoupage, scrapbooking, and for screen savers or backgrounds for your own computer, and more.   GARDEN JOURNALING - Don't forget to take a before picture of your yard and gardens. Put photos in your garden journal. It is a great way to keep records to see how much your garden has grown and changed. - Keep those seed packets and plant tags in your garden journals for future reference. Great source of plant care information. MAINTENANCE AND REPAIRS - Always have a look around to see what is in need of repair. Check arbors, trellises, fences, stakes, walkways, planters, and anything else you may have in your garden and yards. GARDEN TOOLS - If you haven't already done so, retrieve any tools you have sent out for repairs. Set the lawnmower blade back to summer cutting height.   I hope you have found a reminder that was useful for you and your garden. Happy planting! Click here to go back to the month by month garden calendar.