It's time for more gardening tips from Joe Daniels, Delaware County Master Gardener...
Start a compost pile. You can use lots of garden debris including leaves, perennial tops, non-flowering annuals, lawn clippings, shredded tree and shrub prunings. If you already have a compost pile, keep adding garden trimmings, maintain pile moisture, and turn the pile weekly for the best and fastest results. If finishing a batch of compost (after pile was hot, then cooled down and about 1/3 of the original volume), let the pile 'cure' and harvest in four weeks for use in the garden.
Design beds and order plants for autumn planting. Order bulbs for planting in the fall. Order peony roots for planting in September since they need to be in the ground about a month before the killing frost.
Divide irises, oriental poppies and daylilies now.
Sow hollyhocks, poppies and larkspur for next spring's flowers.
Look for holes in the leaves and flower buds of your flowers. If you notice holes, your flowers may have geranium budworms. Bt can be used to control the budworms.
Prune summer-flowering plants that flower on new wood after the flowers fade.
Don't fertilize plants now; give them time to harden-off before winter.
Water plants deeply in August since this is when they set buds for next year's growth.
Hand remove bagworms and tent caterpillars.
Watch for powdery mildew, as it can become a problem toward the end of August when the evenings become cooler. Use prevention strategies. Select resistant varieties, space and prune, water early in the day and reduce nitrogen fertilizer.
Root cuttings of many woody plants including azaleas, hollies and hydrangeas.
Keep up weeding, deadheading, pest patrol, and watering; remove tattered foliage.
Remember--perennial gardens often take a bit of a rest during this month and maybe you should too...go away on vacation for awhile...but don't forget to ask a friend to look in on your garden for watering or whatever tasks your friend may want to do for you...RELAX !!!
Do you have a gardening question? Call our Master Gardeners hortline at 610-690-2671 on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9 AM-12 NOON.
UPCOMING MASTER GARDENERS EVENTS
August 11, 2007: Vegetable & Fruit Sculpting
Learn how to create sculpted veggies & fruit. This is a hands-on workshop.
September 8, 2007: Gourds & Birdhouses
Learn how to make birdhouses and other useful items from gourds you can grow in your garden. This is a hands-on workshop.
September 29, 2007: Master Gardeners Fall Fest & Plant Sale
Registration required for all events (except plant sale). Please call 610-690-2655 for more information or visit our website at http://delaware.extension.psu.edu/MG/MGcalendar.
