August Gardening Calendar

Vegetables

• Compost or till under residues from harvested crops.
• Weeks 1-3: Sow seeds of beans, beets, spinach & turnips now for the fall garden. Spinach may germinate better if seeds are refrigerated for one week before planting.
• Week 1: Broccoli, cabbage & cauliflower transplants should be set out now for the fall garden.
• Weeks 3-4: Pinch the growing tips of gourds once adequate fruit set is achieved. This directs energy into ripening fruits, rather than vine production.

• Weeks 1-2: Zoysia lawns can receive their final fertilizer application now.
• Weeks 1-2: Apply insecticides now for grub control on lawns being damaged by their activity.
• Weeks 3-4: Lawns scheduled for renovation this fall should be killed with Roundup now. Have soil tested to determine fertility needs.
• Week 4: Dormant lawns should be soaked now to encourage strong fall growth.
• Week 4: Verify control of lawn white grubs from earlier insecticide applications.

• Prop up branches of fruit trees that are threatening to break under the weight of a heavy crop.
• Weeks 1-3: Protect ripening fruits from birds by covering plants with a netting.
• Weeks 1-3: Continue to spray ripening fruits to prevent brown rot fungus.
• Week 1: Thornless blackberries are ripening now.
• Weeks 2-4: Watch for fall webworm activity now.
• Weeks 2-4: Cultivate strawberries. Weed preventers can be applied immediately after fertilizing.
• Weeks 2-3: Spray peach and other stone fruits now to protect against peach tree borers.
• Weeks 2-3: Fall-bearing red raspberries are ripening now.
• Weeks 2-3: Sprays will be necessary to protect late peaches from oriental fruit moth damage.

• Continue spraying roses that are susceptible to black spot and other fungus diseases.
• Annuals may appear leggy and worn now. These can be cut back hard and fertilized to produce a new flush of bloom.
• Deadhead annuals & perennials as needed.
• Weeks 1-2: Divide oriental poppies now.
• Weeks 1-2: Roses should receive no further nitrogen fertilizer after August 15th.
• Weeks 2-4: Order bulbs now for fall planting.
• Weeks 2-4: 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.

• Once bagworms reach full size, insecticides are ineffective. Pruning off and burning large bags provides better control.
• Weeks 1-2: Spray black locust trees now to protect against damage by the locust borer.
• Weeks 3-4: Monitor plants for spider mite activity. Hose these pests off with a forceful spray of water.
• Weeks 3-4: 2nd generation pine needle scale crawlers may be present on Mugo pine now.