August can be a nice, relaxed time for the gardener.  The prep work has been done, annuals have been planted and are in full bloom, perennials have been groomed and are thriving.  The hard work you did from April to July has certainly paid off.  August is the time for a little weeding, plenty of watering and just enjoying the beauty of your labors.  There are still some essentials that should be attended to if you wish to enjoy the beauty of your garden throughout the summer season:

• August can be dry, so watering is essential.  In the early morning hours, water thoroughly to allow the roots to grow deeply.  This will anchor  plants very well.  Deep watering allows the soil to retain the moisture the plants need to prevent the roots from drying out.  If you had a good rain the night before, or if you are expecting a good rain that day, early-morning watering is not needed.  Ideally, the soil should dry out before your next watering, which normally happens day-to-day when early-morning watering is done.  Light daytime watering does not accomplish much, as the water will not reach the roots of the plants and will evaporate as the day heats up.
• To get your annuals to bloom continuously during the summer, pinch off the dead flowers.  The hardier the annual, the more blooms you will get.  Hardy annuals include marigolds, pansies, petunias and geraniums.
• Perennials should be nicely groomed so they do not grow out of control.  If they are kept groomed during the summer months, it will be easier to get your garden ready next spring, as they will begin their growth in a more contained way.
• Throughout August you should enjoy your garden fruits and veggies!  Be sure they are still receiving a good amount of water each day and groom them by pinching off dead leaves.  You should continue to fertilize them until their blooming season nears its end.
• Container plants and gardens need careful attention.  Container plants and gardens tend to dry out faster than ground-rooted plants and need to be watered daily unless the soil feels moist to the touch.  In August, they should also receive regular doses of all-purpose plant food for nourishment they do not receive from the container soil.  Grooming (pinching off dead leaves and flowers) also needs to be done on a regular basis.
• Very often the lawn takes a beating during the hot, sunny days of August.   In order to thrive and be lush and green, the lawn needs plenty of water.  Keeping the grass at a slightly higher level will help keep the moisture in the soil, much like a good layer of mulch in the garden.  Heavy watering and higher grass does mean that you will have to mow more frequently.  If you have not spread grub preventative over your lawn, do it now.   If it gets hot and dry, your lawn may develop brown areas; but you don’t want those areas to be the result of grubs eating the roots of your grass.  Brown areas from hot, dry weather will return to life once the area becomes well-watered again; brown areas from grub devastation means that the grasses are dead, and the areas will have to be re-sown.
• If birdfeeders are part of your overall garden scheme, be sure to clean out the feeders regularly.  Food collects and mats at the bottom of feeders causing bacteria to form, resulting in a most unpleasant odor.
• If you have a birdbath, be sure to change the water regularly and keep it full.  You don’t want dirty, standing water in the birdbath to become a breeding ground for mosquitoes.  The birdbath itself needs to be scrubbed regularly to prevent mildew and green slime from forming.

With just a little continued maintenance during the month of August, you can really relax and enjoy the lawn, flowers, fruit plants and vegetable plants that you so carefully prepared at the beginning of the summer season.  Maintenance in August will make your late-summer maintenance easier and allow your lawn and garden to flourish through to the end of the season.

©2009, KH Adams, Trumbull, CT