August is a close instant to July for being the hottest , muggiest month of the twelvemonth in the Mid - Atlantic sphere . As much as we gardeners are tempted to take a break from our horticulture chores this calendar month , unfortunately , weeds , insects , and diseases do n’t take a holiday . In fact , our garden need us more than ever this month to keep them look profuse and goodish .
Pay attention to the basic demand of the garden
Do n’t let the weeds get out of control
While all our cosmetic plants are gasp for body of water and reprieve from the heat , mourning band perversely thrive under such stressful conditions . Every weed that produces seed this class means more weeds and more work for you next class . Some peculiarly fertile weeds include the following :
Spiny Amaranthor Spiny Pigweed ( Amaranthus spinosus ) . This summertime yearly is equal to of producing about 235,000 seeds per ripe flora according to the University of Tennessee Extension ’s fact sheet onSpiny Amaranth . Obviously prolific , this weed also has a taproot , which is difficult to pull when the soil is dry . Wearing baseball glove when pulling this weed is highly recommended due to the twenty-five percent - inch long thorn at the base of the leaves .
persist zippy for plant pest and diseases
Just as weeds come along to flourish in swelter heat , insect gadfly and disease do n’t seem to be obstruct by it either . persist on the alarm for such problem as :
Rust – This fungous disease appears when relative humidness is high and moisture put up on leaf airfoil for extended periods of time . rusting fungus produce mess of yellow , orange , brown , or rust fungus - distort spore as part of their life sentence cycle . Like powdery mildew , rust fungus is an unsightly disease , but it seldom kills a plant instantly . It will , however , stunt the plant life and reduce its vigor . Rust is peculiarly vulgar on ornamental plants such as asters , day lily , dianthus , iris , althea , and phlox . For meek infections , remove taint leaves to contain the disease . The University of Massachusetts publication onRust Diseases of Ornamental Cropsis a good source for information on ascertain this disease .
For more selective information on a variety of works pest and disease treatments , see the Virginia Tech Home Grounds and AnimalsPest Management Guide 2022 .
Evaluate your perennial and annuals for heat and drought tolerance
Using plant that are naturally heat and drouth broad aid keep the late summer garden looking fresh and inviting . The following characteristic by and large bespeak secure drouth tolerance in plant :
Small Leaves – Many drought - kind plants have fine or lacing - comparable foliation . The smaller leaf surface area offsets the loss of piddle through the leaves .
Another important scheme is to practice plant species that are aboriginal to primal Virginia . These species have evolved using a variety of strategies for collar with the environmental conditions specific to this geographic area . Check out this inclination ofNative Drought - Resistant Plantsfor the Charlottesville orbit .
learn for sign of drought stress in arboraceous ornamental plants
want of weewee affects plant in various means , depending on the specie of plant life and the grade of emphasis to which they are subjected . In summation to wilting , which is frequently the first sign of drought stress , look for the following sign of the zodiac :
A drought this year may feign the health and vigor of next twelvemonth ’s plants . Water - stressed shrubs that are form flower buds for next yr ’s exhibit may produce few buds and smaller farewell . fruit shrubs , such as winterberries , may drop their Charles Edward Berry .
Also , pay attention to evergreen species . Although water stressed , they often do not provide any clues to their condition and may remain unripened until it ’s too late .
Be watchful to invading metal money
Japanese stiltgrass(Microstegium vimineum ) is an annual invasive that germinates a couple of hebdomad before crab grass and flowers start in July into October . A individual fledged plant can produce about 1,000 seeds . The seeds ripen and unload to the ground between August and December and can stay on workable in the soil for up to 7 years . Mowing and weed whacking it in August greatly reduces seed organization . For more information on this incursive species and how to control it , see the Blue Ridge Partnership for Regional Invasive Species Management ( PRISM ) fact plane onJapanese Stiltgrassand theInvasive Plant Control Calendarin the May 2022 issue ofThe Garden Shed .
Plan onward
tumble is the best time to divide spring or early summertime - blooming plants . Make a listing now of perennial to move or dividethis falland make up one’s mind where to institute the new divisions . A little preparation now will save you lots of time after when you get ready to do this task . design to finish dividing plant about 6 to 8 weeks before the first hard freeze so that the roots have plenty of sentence to recuperate before the onrush of winter weather .
In add-on to perennial , anticipate planting trees and shrubs later this calendar month or in early fallso that they have time to take root in before winter . Prepare the mess in progress so that the plant life can be transferred from its container and into its lasting home as rapidly as possible . Water immediately and monitor closely while the plant is getting established . Plan on watering until the soil freeze this winter .
Sow seeds in late summer for cool - weather annualssuch as calendulas , Iceland poppies , primrose , queer , Viola , snapdragon , stock , or bury - me - nots . Next spring , you ’ll be glad you design before and sowed the semen now .
gild spring - blossom bulbs nowwhile selections are good . If you ’re buying bulbs now from garden center or nurseries , take the largest bulbs available . Be wary of so - called “ bargain ” bulbs . If the bulbs are small or of subscript lineament , they may not be much of a buy .
SOURCES :
Featured Photo : Rudbeckia ‘ American Gold Rush ’ and ‘ Color Guard ’ yucca . Photo : Pat Chadwick
Monthly Gardening Tips / Piedmont Master Gardeners
