Here’s a Garden-To-Do List for the sultry month of August:
• Seed a fall crop of peas and spinach and keep harvesting. There’s always something to make with zucchini.
• Pick herbs for fresh use and for drying. Harvesting will keep them growing longer.
• Order spring bulbs for planting and forcing.
• Check that your mulch hasn’t decomposed and add more as needed.
• Spread a mid-season layer of compost or manure.
• Keep deadheading and harvesting.
• Leave some annual seeds to self-sow.
• Start saving seeds and taking cuttings.
• Remove any diseased foliage now, so it doesn’t get lost in the fall leaves.
• Cut back the foliage of early bloomers like Brunnera and hardy geraniums, to revitalize the plants.
• Prune summer flowering shrubs as the flowers fade.
• Trim and feed handing baskets to prolong their beauty.
• Take pictures of your garden at it’s peak. Take pictures of container combinations you’d like to repeat.
• Make sure the cold frame is ready to go.
• Begin dividing perennials. Start with the bearded iris.
• Pot up perennial divisions for spring plant swaps. Sink the pots into the ground this fall and they’ll be one less chore in the spring.
• Plant trees, shrubs and perennials now, so they can take root, and keep them well watered.
• Get your fall-blooming crocus and colchicum planted so they’ll bloom on time.
• Begin planting for the fall/winter vegetable garden.
• Plant a spring crop of garlic.
• Get the rose garden in shape for fall planting.
• Order spring flowering bulbs for pre-chilling.
• Feed citrus trees after harvest.
Courtesy gardening.about.com
