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August Garden Guide

august-garden-guide

Prepare Your Garden Spaces for Fall Planting

  1. Clean areas of unwanted weeds and debris.
  2. Break up the soil and add organic matter like Cotton Burr Compost, and turn or till it in.
  3. Mix in dried molasses and organic fertilizer like Medina Growin’ Green.
  4. Water and let it rest until you are ready to plant.
  5. Keep it watered to encourage beneficial microbes in the soil.

 

Read: Organic Gardening

Read: Comfort for Summer: Shade Cloth

Watch: A Great Trick to Green Up Your Lawn & Garden!

Read: Fall’s Around the Corner – it’s Garden Time!

Watch: How to Collect a Grass Sample 

What To Plant

Late Summer Vegetable Transplants

Plant tomato, eggplant, and pepper transplants after August 10th. Be sure to keep watered well and evenly shaded from the hot afternoon sun.

Read: Homegrown Tastes Best
Garden Guide: Fall Tomatoes

 

Fall Vegetable Seeds

Seeds of beans, cabbage, peas, winter squash, and turnips. Start in pots and then transplant to garden. Protect from intense heat and sun.

Pumpkin Seeds

If you want pumpkins by Halloween, plant your seeds by August 10th.

 

 

Bluebonnet Seeds

Sow bluebonnet seeds now for spring bloom.

 
 
 
 

Tropicals

All tropicals including allamandas, mandevillas, palms, pentas, blue daze, hamelia, hibiscus, esperanza, and plumbago will continue growing and blooming.


Summer Annuals

Annuals such as zinnias, moss rose, gomphrena, purslane, periwinkles, caladium and coleus will continue to flourish.

“House” Plants

Don’t forget that “house plants” are generally tropical in nature and love a nice shady or semi shady patio to put on the best show. Ficus, schefflera, corn plants, dracaenas, ivies, ponytail palms, and bromeliads all like heat and humidity.

Read: Plants, the Perfect Rx for Clean Air

 

All container grown trees, shrubs, and vines.

Garden Guide: Planting Trees, Shrubs, and Groundcovers
Read: Crape Myrtle Season

Prune

  • Continue removing faded flowers from annuals and perennials to encourage new blooms.
  • Faded blooms and seed pods from crape myrtle to promote additional blooming
  • Dead wood from trees and shrubs
  • Trim plants as needed to maintain size and shape.
  • Palms as needed
  • Poinsettias early in month – last pruning for December color

Water

  • Check all newly planted material for water every day.
  • Check pots, containers and hanging baskets often, as they dry out quickly and need more water.
  • Apply mulch as needed to help conserve moisture.
  • Make arrangements for someone to water if leaving for more than 2 days, especially with new plants.
  • Follow City Water Restriction Guidelines.

Fertilize

All trees and shrubs

Fertilize organically with MilorganiteMedina Growin Green, or Plant Tone. 

 

Annuals and perennials

Fertilize organically with Medina Growin Green, or Hasta Gro, or conventionally with Osmocote Time Release Granules.


All hibiscus and tropical bloomers

Fertilize organically with Maestro Gro-Rose Glo, or conventionally with Hibiscus Food.


All granular fertilizer should be watered in well

Lawn Care

  • Organic fertilizers such as Milorganite, and Medina Growin Green are excellent fertilizers that feed plants and soil and are the best choice during hot, dry periods.
  • Lay new sod anytime, and Bermuda seed anytime this month.
  • Apply organic Nature’s Blend, or conventional Hi Yield Iron Plus to yellow spots in lawn.
  • Mow as required. Keep St. Augustine cut to about 3”, Bermuda at 1” – 2”.
  • Watch for Chinch Bugs and Grub Worms.
  • Water well every 7 to 10 days.

Read: Use the Cycle Soak Method
Garden Guide: Lawn Care

Watch Out For

Mealy bugs

Treat organically with Neem Oil, Spinosad Soap, or Bee Safe 3-in-1 or conventionally with Cyonara or Bonide Systemic.

Read: Mealy Bugs are Here!

Chinch bugs in lawns

Treat organically with Spinosad or Diatomaceous Earth, or conventionally with Cyonara.

Spider mites

Treat organically with Neem Oil, Spinosad Soap, or Bee Safe 3-in-1 or conventionally with Cyonara or Bonide Systemic.

Note: Spraying your plants with seaweed extract helps repel spider mites, and it’s good for your plants too!

Fleas and ticks

Treat lawns organically with Spinosad, or Diatomaceous Earth, or conventionally with Cyonara.

Borers in mesquites, ash, and yucca

Treat organically with Spinosad.

Fungus, Powdery Mildew

Treat organically with Fungicide 5, Neem Oil, or Bee Safe 3 in 1, or with Fertilome Broad Spectrum Fungicide, or Systemic Fungicide.

Unwanted caterpillars – remember that many caterpillars turn into the butterflies that we love and enjoy!

If necessary, treat organically with Thuricide or Spinosad.

Read: Darn Those Summer Bugs!

Reader Interactions

Comments

    • Jesse says

      Hi Kathy – yes, we can grow lavender in CC, but it doesn’t tend to last more than 1 or 2 seasons. Spanish varieties are best. We’ll have some available Fall and Spring.

  1. Greg Werks says

    I found these fall planting tips really helpful! Clearing weeds, adding compost, and nurturing the soil make a lot of sense. How often should I water during the rest period to promote those beneficial microbes effectively?

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