August gardening tips for outdoor flowering plants, ornamentals and vegetable gardening are provided in this issue.
Outdoor flowering plants and ornamentals
Continue to keep newly planted trees and shrubs well-watered.
Clean up fallen rose and peony leaves. They can harbor disease and insect pests over the winter if allowed to remain on the ground.
Refresh mulch, check for weeds and water landscape beds.
Take a break from the heat and take time to enjoy your landscape.
Scout for diseases on roses. Treat with fungicides if necessary.
Keep an eye out for spider mites on ornamentals! They love it hot and dry. Frequent, strong jets of water can help reduce mite populations.
Avoid pruning shrubs and trees now. Pruning now will promote new growth that will not harden by winter which can lead to winter damage.
If azaleas look chlorotic (pale green to yellow), check the soil pH. They need an acid soil. Scout for insects as they can also cause yellowing.
Keep deadheading annuals and perennials as needed.
Annuals may be cut back to encourage a new flush of growth and blooms.
Do not fertilize roses after Aug. 15.
Powdery mildew on lilacs, phlox and zinnias is unsightly, but causes no harm and rarely warrants control.
Start ordering spring flowering bulbs but wait to plant them until fall.
Divide iris after bloom.
Vegetable gardening
Many herbs self-sow if the flowers are not removed. Dill, lemon balm, oregano, basil and cilantro seeds fall around the parent plant and come up as volunteers the following spring.
A cover crop adds organic material when it is incorporated into the soil the following spring. Later this month, plant a winter cover crop to enrich your garden soil. Wheat, cereal rye and red clover are good choices. Plant no later than November 1st.
Fall vegetables can be planted until late in August. Vegetables include lettuce, radishes, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, spinach and turnips. For planting dates, see MU Extension Guide G6201 Vegetable Planting Calendar https://extension.missouri.edu/publications/g6201.
Compost plant materials from the garden as crops are harvested. Avoid composting any plants that are disease or insect infested. Avoid any weeds that have gone to seed. Practice good sanitation measures. For more information on composting, see MU Extension Guide G6956 Making and Using Compost https://extension.missouri.edu/publications/g6956.
Cure onions in a warm, dry place for two weeks before storing. Store in a cool, dry place. for more information, see MU Extension Guide G6226 Vegetable Harvest and Storage https://extension.missouri.edu/publications/g6226.
Water garden vegetables thoroughly in times of drought.
Scout for insect and disease problems in the garden. If you use a pesticide, follow the directions on label.
Source: Missouri Botanical Garden.
Dhruba Dhakal, Ph.D., is a University of Missouri Extension Horticulturist, serving Missourians in Central Missouri. Dhakal can be contacted at [email protected] with gardening questions.
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