Gardening Tips for August 2024

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• Annuals – Lobelia erinus, Cleome, Verbena, Cosmos.
• Perennials – Agastache, Dianthus, Monarda, Alstroemeria, Penstemon ‘Midnight’ (overwinters well in Sonoma County).
• Shrubs – Lantana, Berberis, Fuchsia.
• Bulbs and Bulblike in bloom now – Tuberous Begonias, Dahlias, Cannas.
• Seeds - Sunflowers, Beets, Carrots.
• Extas – Yellow Sticky Traps, Water jugs for slow watering and fertilizing, Maxsea fertilizers. Bamboo Stakes (green and beige so they can be hidden in the foliage)..  

• BLOG: Plants for Summer Color 
• It's Free to Subscribe to The Gardening Tutor Monthly Newsletter and Receive More Gardening Tips and Photos.
• Sunflowers - Seeds of sunflowers can still be sown until the third week this month for a fall show!
• Hanging Begonias – are quite drought tolerant. They like to dry out a bit between watering. When watered too much the tubers may start to rot. Watch The Gardening Tutor video Two Quick Ways to Apply Liquid Fertilizer to see one easy way to water hanging plants.
• Roses - In general, late August is the last fertilizing for the season here in Sonoma County. Clean up fallen leaves and prune a little farther down the stems then you did earlier in the summer in order to encourage blooms for Thanksgiving.
• Pruning - Especially towards the end of August, many plants can be pruned and sheared to rejuvenate them for a good show in September and October. Nepeta and Erigeron can be sheared just before they start to look straggly (these two plants can be sheared up to 4 or even 5 times a year to keep them looking good). Teucrium chamaedrys also can be sheared down to 3 or 4 inches high. For more tips on shearing plants watch The Gardening Tutor video Shearing Plants to Encourage Flowers and Foliage. The key to rejuvenating plants is to give them extra water from the hose for a week or so after hard pruning. Fruit Trees-there is still time this month to do summer pruning of fruit trees. Contact Mary today to learn how or have her prune for you.
• Pest Management - To keep spider mite populations down, wash shrub foliage down with a strong spray of water once or twice a month (more often if you live on a dusty road; however, daily washing is not necessary and may encourage fungal infections). You can keep plants looking good by using a metal shrub rake to rake through the fine webbing of spider mites.
• Mulch - Where needed. Watch The Gardening Tutor video Mulch vs. Compost
• Fertilizing- Continue to fertilize repeat blooming plants throughout the growing season. Apply liquid fertilizer once a month at full strength or use half strength every two weeks (Mary uses Maxsea). This is especially helpful for plants in containers. Remember to avoid applying liquid fertilizer to dry soil. Also, fertilizing too often can encourage rapid growth that is weak and more attractive to pests. 
• When you're ready to learn how to care for your plants  Contact The Gardening Tutor
• Take Time To Just Kick Back and Enjoy the Summer Garden.
   

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ALL CONTENT by Mary Frost (no AI).