By JoAnne Skelly — It’s hard to believe the end of August is already here. However, when I was up hiking last week, I noticed that many willows and grasses are turning yellow at the higher elevations. Most of the flowers there have dried up and gone to seed.
At the lower elevations I have noticed poplars “flagging” — a term used to describe the occasional branch with yellow leaves. Although I wish summer wasn’t winding down, I am looking forward to cooler temperatures so I can work outside again more easily.
JoAnne Skelly
I used to tell people to start backing down on watering at the beginning of September, so that trees and shrubs would slow down their growth. But with climate change our first average frost date is now October 1, rather than September 15. With these warmer temperatures lasting later into the fall, I now advise reducing irrigation about mid-September.
As summer winds down, the cooler temperatures are good for the lawn, which will no longer struggle to survive the heat. With this in mind, it is a good time for a late-summer application of nitrogen fertilizer.
According to my Cooperative Extension colleague Heidi Kratsch a “late-summer application should be done when the average daily temperature for three or more consecutive days is below 50 degrees Fahrenheit. This promotes a vigorous, healthy root system and a hardy crown without encouraging shoot growth.” She says that to determine the average daily temperature, add the day’s high and low temperatures and divide the result by two. Use fertilizers designed for our cool season grasses — Kentucky bluegrass and tall fescue.
We avoid fertilizing the lawn in mid-summer because it over-stimulates the grass leading to faster growth, potential disease and stress, higher water use and more mowing. Over-fertilization can also contribute to thatch buildup.
In caring for your late summer lawn, remember to continue to mow high, which is good for the health of the grass. It also encourages a more drought-resistant lawn and fewer weeds. As temperatures cool, reduce your irrigation times because the grass will need less water.
Maples, birches, poplars, elms and willows can be pruned in September. If pruned in summer, they tend to ooze a lot of sap and look like they are bleeding. After Labor Day I’m planning a big cleanup of my flower beds. Best part of autumn is that it is the optimum time of year for planting trees, shrubs and flowers, which, if we are lucky, will be on sale!
— JoAnne Skelly is an Associate Professor and Extension Educator, Emerita, University of Nevada Cooperative Extension. She can be reached at skellyj@unr.edu.
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