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Late
Summer Chores |
Watering
Keep trees,
shrubs, container plants, and newly planted evergreens well watered.
Early morning is the best time to water - before the hot sun hits them.
Water deeply and infrequently. Wet foliage overnight makes plants more
susceptible to fungus and disease.
For watering
tips, see Summer
Chores task
list.
Perennials,
Annuals, and Bulbs
 Deadhead
flower stalks.
As they grow,
keep tying vines and climbing roses to their supports. Stake tall flower
stalks (e.g. dahlias and delphiniums).
Divide and
replant irises.
Plant
fall-blooming bulbs (e.g. autumn crocus).
The final
fertilizing of roses should be done by mid-August.
 Shrubs
and Trees
Stake
newly planted trees, making sure the stake is on the windward side.
In
mid-month, prune cedars, cypresses and junipers. Trim off no more than
half of the new growth. Shear yews and hemlock.
Fruits
and Veggies
 Pinch
off the growing stem tips from eggplant, pepper, melon, and tomato plants to
promote ripening of their existing fruits and vegetables.
Midsummer
plantings of beets, bush beans, carrots, cauliflower, broccoli, lettuce,
kale, and peas will provide fall and winter crops.
When
the stalk tips of onions yellow, fold down the stalks just above the bulbs
to hasten ripening and produce larger bulbs.
Trim
off raspberry canes that bore this year to about 4-6 inches above ground.
Harvest
herbs for drying or freezing.
Sow
a final crop of radishes and kale for fall harvest.
 Lawns
Repair
any bare spots in the lawn by sowing seed or laying slabs of sod. Keep
the areas well watered until the grass is established.
If
the weather is still hot and dry, keep the mower blades about 3 or more
inches above the ground.
Avoid
using fertilizers in hot, dry weather.
 House
Plants
Continue
to watch for insect or disease damage and take the necessary steps to
control the problem. This is particularly important for plants that
are "summering" outdoors.
If
the weather remains warm, it will be necessary to water and mist your house
plants more often, as will drier air in air-conditioned homes.
Keep
feeding your house plants with 1/2 the recommended strength of a good
soluble house plant fertilizer while they are actively growing.
Birds
and Butterflies
 Change
humming bird nectar regularly now into fall, as the hummers will be
returning to their winter "resorts" starting soon, and you will
want to have refreshments ready for them!
Start
harvesting seeds from annuals, perennials and shrubs that attract birds and
butterflies for sowing next spring. Don't disturb any pupas that find
on these plants.
Provide
a water source and clean and replace water daily or more often in heat
waves.
Keep
your feeders full - third broods are fledging now, and birds that fly south
for the winter will begin dropping by in northern zones.
 Odds
and Ends
Keep
the weeds pulled, before they have a chance to flower and go to seed again.
Otherwise, you will be fighting newly germinated weed seed for the next
several years.
Continue
to watch for insect or disease damage throughout the garden, and take the
necessary steps to control the problem.
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