KJFM NEWS — Garden Talk is produced monthly at the Adair County University of Missouri Extension Center in Kirksville, Mo.
AUGUST GARDEN TIPS AND TASKS
Ornamentals
- Spray roses susceptible to black spot and other fungus diseases.
- Annuals that appear leggy and worn can be cut back hard and fertilized to produce a new flush of bloom.
- Divide oriental poppies now.
- Feed mums, asters and other fall-blooming perennials for the last time.
- Roses should receive no further nitrogen fertilizer after August 15th.
- Powdery mildew on lilacs is unsightly, but causes no harm and rarely warrants control, though common rose fungicides will prove effective.
- Madonna lilies, bleeding heart (Dicentra) and bloodroot (Sanguinaria) can be divided and replanted.
- Divide bearded iris now. Discard old center sections and borer damaged parts. Replant so tops of rhizomes are just above ground level.
- Prune to shape hedges for the last time this season.
- Evergreens can be planted or transplanted now to ensure good rooting before winter arrives. Water both the plant and the planting site several days before moving.
- If you want to grow big dahlia flowers, keep side shoots pinched off and plants watered and fertilized regularly.
Lawns
- Zoysia lawns can receive their final fertilizer application now.
- Apply insecticides for grub control on lawns damaged by their activity.
- Lawns scheduled for renovation this fall should be killed with Roundup now. Have soil tested to determine fertility needs.
- Dormant lawns should be soaked now to encourage strong fall growth.
- Verify control of lawn white grubs from earlier insecticide applications.
Vegetables
- Sow seeds of beans, beets, spinach and turnips now for the fall garden. Spinach may germinate better if seeds are refrigerated for one week before planting.
- Cure onions in a warm, dry place for 2 weeks before storing.
- Broccoli, cabbage and cauliflower transplants can be set out now.
- Begin planting lettuce and radishes for fall now.
- Pinch the growing tips of gourds once adequate fruit set is achieved. This directs energy into ripening fruits, rather than vine production.
Fruits
- Prop up branches of fruit trees threatening to break under the weight of a heavy crop.
- Protect ripening fruits from birds by covering plants with a netting.
- Continue to spray ripening fruits to prevent brown rot fungus.
- Thornless blackberries are ripening now.
- Watch for fall webworm activity now.
- Cultivate strawberries. Apply weed preventers soon after fertilizing.
- Spray peach and other stone fruits to protect against peach tree borers.
- Fall-bearing red raspberries are ripening now.
- Sprays to protect late peaches from oriental fruit moth damage.
Miscellaneous
- Soak shrubs periodically during dry spells with enough water to moisten the soil to a depth of 8-10 inches.
- Once bagworms reach full size, insecticides are ineffective. Pruning off and burning large bags provides better control.
– Missouri Botanical Garden –