August Landscape Maintenance
We have had some much needed rain but don’t put the hose away yet . This water will not last long with it having been so dry. Keep watering and weeding the garden and lawn. A good time to pull weeds is immediately after a good soaking rain. There will be weeds after the rain. Water thoroughly and deeply when you water. Do your watering in the morning or early afternoon to allow the soil to warm up before evening.
You can greatly improve the look and health of your garden by removing spent flowers and any dry crinkly leaves from your perennials and annuals. By removing spent flowers the plants will not go into the seed producing stage and may flower longer. Removing bad foliage can stop the spread of fungus and insects.
Spring blooming perennials can be divided and transplanted this month and next. Keep fertilizing the annuals in your pots and hanging baskets. The frequent watering leaches the nutrients from the soil. Continue to look for insects or disease damage and control if necessary.
For a more formal manicured look, summer blooming shrubs can be given a light shearing after they finish flowering. Cut out dead, broken and rubbing branches out of your shrubs and small trees whenever you have your pruners out.
This is the month to improve your lawn. With the recent rain you can resume spraying broadleaf weeds with Fertilome’s Weed Free Zone, Never spray weed killer on a drought stressed lawn. Broadleaf weed killer works best when plants are actively growing. It is best to kill weeds before they go to seed and become a problem for years to come. Later this month you can fertilize the lawn again and over seed the thin spots. Don’t fertilize a lawn that is drought stressed or when temps exceed 90-degrees. If you over-seed an area, make sure to consider the amount of sunlight, traffic and salt the area will be exposed to. Choose the seed blend best suited to your conditions. Continue watering; grass needs 1" of water every week. If the temperature stays warm keep your mower set at 3" or higher.
Change the water in your bird bath regularly and keep it filled. Stagnant water may become a breeding ground for mosquitoes. Remember mosquitoes, they could make a comeback after the recent rains. The best defense against flying insects on the deck and patio, is a strategically placed fan. Those of you with new ponds or water features, and yes Carol this means you, need to be vigilant on making sure they always have adequate water levels. They lose more moisture to evaporation and splashing then one might think.
Enjoy the rest of the summer. Spend some time enjoying your garden.
Again feel free to email me with any specific maintenance questions or for any other landscape needs.
Jeff Hauer, Landscape Designer and Owner