Waterwise garden

Gardening with Limited Water

Learn the best ways to care for your plants during this drought. Either select the link from the top navigation above or follow this link to helpful information about using less water in your garden.

August in the Garden

Water Lily

Checklist 

• Continue to provide deep soaking at drip line to trees and shrubs during hot weather.

• Rebuild water basins around trees if needed.

• Adjust your automatic watering to weather..

• Keep compost pile moist. Turn to aerate.

• Fertilize indoor plants as needed.

• Fertilize aquatic plants for the last time this season.

• Mature fruit trees should be fertilized with a pound of nitrogen.

• Apply chelated iron if leaves are yellow with green veins.

• Check roses for spider mites. Hose off early in the day.While it is still hot, solarize soil using clear plastic to kill weeds and nematodes.

• Pick up old veggies and fruit to prevent disease. Add them to the compost pile.

• Provide afternoon shade for vegetables and transplants that are susceptible to sun scald.

• Put melons, winter squash and pumpkins on boards to protect from rot and insects.

• Remove spent flowers for continued bloom.

• Continue to divide Iris bulbs.

newly planted lavender in bloom

Vegetables & Herbs

• Directly seed for carrots, rutabaga, lettuce, and turnips.

• Transplant seedlings or purchased plants of Brussels sprouts, cabbage, spinach, sweet potatoes, eggplant, peppers, winter squash, beets, potatoes, corn, and beans.

• Harvest melons when stems slip easily from the fruit. Also harvest tomatoes, carrots, chard, peppers, cucumbers, corn, green beans and squash.

Lantana

• Plant Yarrow, asters, begonias, coreopsis, daylilies, geraniums, and lantana can be planted but will need protection from hot afternoon sun and careful watering.

• Plant seeds of early flowering sweet peas now through October. Keep them watered and control slugs and snails until they are established.

• Start seeds of fall and winter blooming annuals including calendula, Iceland poppy, primrose, stock, and viola. Also plant seeds of spring blooming fever few, coreopsis, and penstemon in a protected area away from direct sun.

Crape Myrtle

• Observe summer performance of trees and shrubs that are of interest prior to the Fall planting season.