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Things to Plant in August

Flower Plants: Ageratum, Ajuga, Wax Begonia, Blue Daze, Boltonia, Cockscomb, Impatiens,  Rudebeckia Hirta (Gloriosa Daisy), Salvia, Sedum, Shasta Daisy, Stokes’ Aster, Zinnia

FLOWER SEEDS: Ageratum, Alyssum, Amaranthus, Balsam, Bluebell, Calendula, Candytuft, Cleome, Coreopsis, Cornflower, Castor Bean, Cosmos (late), Cockscomb, Four-O’Clock, Gerbera, Hollyhock, Impatiens, Linaria, Marigold (French0, Moonflower, Morning Glory, Petunia, Portulaca, Sunflower, Tithonia, Flowering Tobacco, Zinnia

BULBS: Colchicum (Autumn Crocus), Hardy Cyclamen, Louisiana Iris, Liriope, Lycoris, Monkey Grass

VEGETABLES:
Early—Mid Month: Corn, Eggplant, Pepper, Southern Pea, Tomato, Winter Squash
Mid—Late Month: Potato
ALL Month: Cucumber, Summer Squash

Things to Do in August

Fertilize: Fruiting vegetables weekly after first fruit set for higher productivity. Feed mums every 2-3 weeks until buds appear, then weekly until buds show color. Gardenias can be fed with azalea-camellia food. Fertilize roses for fall bloom. Feed berries and fruit showing poor color/vigor.

WATER: Water all planted areas deeply but infrequently during dry periods. Outdoor container plants need daily watering. Keep azaleas and fruit trees well wateredspring blooms are developing.

SOIL: Discard faded annuals and refurbish soil as needed. Prepare loose, well drained beds for bulb planting. Clean up established garden beds. Turn compost pile.

LAWNCARE: Mow every 5-7 days, leaving the clippings on the lawn. Set mower higher in shady areas to promote denser turf. Avoid weed killers when temperatures are above 85 degrees.

DISEASES/PESTS TO LOOK FOR: Watch for cutworms on new tomato plants; protect with paper collars around base 1 “ above and below ground. Grub worms, chinch bugs and fire ants in lawns. Borers in peaches, plums and other trees. Look for aphids and powdery mildew on crape myrtles.

PRUNE: Roses back by 1/3. Deadhead spent blooms and seed pods from crape myrtles for continued blooms. Trim photinias for red fall color. Thin camellia buds to one per cluster for larger flowers. Remove dead and damaged wood from shrubs and trees. Pinch mums for the last time.

Other Things to Do in August

Try this deer repellent: spray your plants with fermented hot peppers combined with dishwashing liquid. Hot mouth for the deer!

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