August

Ornamentals 

• Continue spraying roses that are susceptible to black spot and other fungus diseases. 
• Annuals may appear leggy and worn now. These can be cut back hard and fertilized to produce a new flush of bloom. 
• Deadhead annuals and perennials as needed. 
• Divide oriental poppies now. 
• Feed mums, asters and other fall-blooming perennials for the last time. 
• Roses should receive no further nitrogen fertilizer after August 15th. 
• Powdery mildew on lilacs is unsightly, but causes no harm and rarely warrants control, though common rose fungicides will prove effective.
•  Madonna lilies, bleeding heart (Dicentra) and bloodroot (Sanguinaria) can be divided and replanted. 
• Divide bearded iris now. Discard old center sections and borer damaged parts. Replant so tops of rhizomes are just above ground level. 
• Prune to shape hedges for the last time this season. 
• Order bulbs now for fall planting. 
• Evergreens can be planted or transplanted now to ensure good rooting before winter arrives. Water both the plant and the planting site several days before moving.
•  If you want to grow big dahlia flowers, keep side shoots pinched off and plants watered and fertilized regularly.

 Lawns 

• Zoysia lawns can receive their final fertilizer application now. 
• Apply insecticides now for grub control on lawns being damaged by their activity. 
• Lawns scheduled for renovation this fall should be killed with Roundup now. Have soil tested to determine fertility needs. 
• Dormant lawns should be soaked now to encourage strong fall growth.
•  Verify control of lawn white grubs from earlier insecticide applications. 

Vegetables 

• Compost or till under residues from harvested crops.
•  Sow seeds of beans, beets, spinach and turnips now for the fall garden. Spinach may germinate better if seeds are refrigerated for one week before planting. 
• Cure onions in a warm, dry place for 2 weeks before storing. 
• Broccoli, cabbage and cauliflower transplants should be set out now for the fall garden.
•  Begin planting lettuce and radishes for fall now. 
• Pinch the growing tips of gourds once adequate fruit set is achieved. This directs energy into ripening fruits, rather than vine production. 

Fruits

•  Prop up branches of fruit trees that are threatening to break under the weight of a heavy crop.
•  Protect ripening fruits from birds by covering plants with a netting. 
• Continue to spray ripening fruits to prevent brown rot fungus. 
• Thornless blackberries are ripening now. 
• Watch for fall webworm activity now.
•  Cultivate strawberries. Weed preventers can be applied immediately after fertilizing.
•  Spray peach and other stone fruits now to protect against peach tree borers.
•  Fall-bearing red raspberries are ripening now.
•  Sprays will be necessary to protect late peaches from oriental fruit moth damage.

 Miscellaneous

•  Soak shrubs periodically during dry spells with enough water to moisten the soil to a depth of 8-10 inches. 
• Once bagworms reach full size, insecticides are ineffective. Pruning off and burning large bags provides better control.
•  Spray black locust trees now to protect against damage by the locust borer. 
• Hummingbirds are migrating through gardens now. 
• Watch Scotch and Austrian pines now for Zimmerman pine moth damage. Yellowing or browning of branch tips and presence of pitch tubes near leaf whorls are indicative. Prune and destroy infected parts
• . Clean out cold frames to prepare for fall use. 
• Monitor plants for spider mite activity. Hose these pests off with a forceful spray of water. 
• 2nd generation pine needle scale crawlers may be present on mugo pine now. 

Pests and Problems

•  By late summer cool-season fescue lawns are often in tough shape. Dead spots resulting from disease, grubs, and/or summer heat often need to be reseeded. These areas should be reseeded between September 1 and mid-October. If this also involves killing any existing grass, start killing these areas in mid-August with glyphosate. Read the product label information for waiting time required before seed can be planted. Click for larger image Brown Patch of Cool-season Lawns Dead areas in tall fescue lawn (Festuca) caused by brown patch  Click for larger image Dollar Spot Small, straw-colored dead spots in a lawn killed by dollar spot  Click for larger image Perennial Grassy Weeds in Lawns and Gardens Orchard grass Dactylis glomerata in fescue lawn (Festuca)