By Gary Crispell, NC State Master GardenerSM volunteer of Durham County
And it’s August. And it rained the entire month of July (11.83” in my rain gauge), so the grass has grown out before I can clean the mower and put it away. The weeds…well. They’re being weeds. The Accidental Cottage Garden (ACG) is a mostly perennial garden full of domesticated weeds. It took a hit in June from the lack of rain. There are real weeds out there to be pulled, but there are also Olympic Games to be enjoyed. Weeds will still be there after the Olympics. Fortunately, I can type between events or else this calendar might have to wait until after the Olympics, too.
No? I must do it now? Sigh… Okay. If you insist. In a minute.
Gold Metal winners in the ACG. Despite drought followed by record rainfall, it’s a two-way tie for first place between the black-eyed Susans and coreopsis. (Image credit: Gary Crispell)
As mentioned above, the ACG (what’s left of it) is rather pleased with the month of rain. There are ten genera in bloom right now. The coreopsis (C. lanceolata) doesn’t know quit nor do the black-eyed Susans (Rudbeckia hirta). Both have persisted through drought and deluge to keep the yellow going. Gold medals for them. Silver for the longest bloom time goes to the Dakota mock vervain (Glandularia bipinnatatifida) whose dainty purple flowers can get lost amongst the taller species, and the foliage is dainty and of great interest, too. Bronze is awarded to the purple cone flower (Echinacea purpurea). I know, with a tie for gold there shouldn’t be a bronze. You award medals your way, and I’ll do it mine.
Longest bloom-time catapults Dakota mock vervain into the Silver Medal position, while the perennial and hardy favorite purple cone flower comes in strong earning the Bronze. (Image credit: Gary Crispell)
Moving on to the honorable mentions; The gallardia (G. pulchella), balloon flower (Platycodon grandiflorus) (Doing a re-bloom after timely removal of old blooms), daylily (Hemerocallis x August Flame), evening primrose (Oenothera lamarckiana), and the two reseeding annuals, French marigold (Tagetes patula) and zinnia (Zinna elegans) all deserve this honor.
Hard to believe that these beauties are representing the Honorable Mention category: the daylily ‘August Flame’ is true to its name while the balloon flower seems nearly ever-blooming. (Image credit: Gary Crispell)
Calendar? What calendar? We already discussed this. There are Olympic Games to watch. Team USA to cheer on, and you want a calendar. Sheesh. Well, I did say I’d do it, so if you really want to go out in the heat here are many things to keep you sweat-covered and happy.
Lawn Care
Look for signs of grubs—smallish patches of yellowing or brown turf. Dig around in one of them and if you find a grub treat the whole lawn with an appropriate insecticide.
Late in the month, prepare any areas that need seeding with cool season grass seed (tall fescue/bluegrass).
Fertilizing
Give strawberries a dose of nitrogen fertilizer.
DO NOT (as in DON’T) fertilize any trees or shrubs until the weather turns cold and stays that way for a while.
Planting
So, you like to start your own plants from seed? Here’s an opportunity for you. Sow flats of pansies now to be transplanted in late September.
Perennials such as hollyhocks (Alcea rosea), delphiniums (D. elatum), and Stokes asters (Stoksia laevis) can be direct seeded now for a bloom show next year.
Repot some house plants.
Plant a fall garden of beets, cabbages, cucumbers, kale, kohlrabi, lettuce, mustard, radishes, squash, turnips, and rutabagas or some combination thereof.
Pruning
No! Except in case of emergency (hurricanes and severe thunderstorms) do not remove any pruning equipment from its storage facility until late November.
Spraying
See “SPRAYING” for July. The same sap sucking little…critters—spider mites on coniferous evergreens, lace bugs on azaleas and pyracantha, and aphids on everything else.
Continue with rose, fruit tree, and bunch grape spray programs.
Check cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower) for worms and look for borers on squash.
Spray only when necessary. Always identify the pest and apply the proper pesticide.
Always read the label and follow the instructions.
Propagation
Cuttings can still be taken from shrubs.
More Things for August Heat Lovers to do Outside
Update your landscape plan to include changes you intend to make this fall.
Harvest Irish potatoes.
Start composting or turn the pile.
Go to a baseball game.
Hydrate and take breaks from the heat.
It’ll be fall before we know it.
Resources and Additional Information
Learn more about starting plants from seeds
Tackle repotting houseplants with this handy factsheet
https://wayne.ces.ncsu.edu/2022/04/repotting-houseplants
Find great tips on fall veggie gardening–and gardening all year round– on our former blog post
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