August Garden Guide

  • Mulch dahilias to conserve moisture and eliminate weeds.
    • Stake plants with heavy blooms.
    • Order spring-flowering bulbs for fall planting
    • Keep phlox plants deadheaded. Never let phlox go to seed if you want to keep colors true.
    • Start seeds of daisy, coreopsis, sweet william and pansy in peat pots or nursery beds.
      Transfer to permanent beds in late September or early October.
    • Cut Gladiolus blooms leaving maximum amount of foliage on plants.
    • Transplant and divide iris and day lily.
    • Watch for red spider mites on phlox.
    • Plant chrysanthimums for fall color. Fall planted chrysanthimums
      need extra winter protection.
    • In mid-month, take cuttings of coleus, geraniums and
      other plants for winter houseplants.
    • Plant Madonna lily and Japanese and Siberian Iris.
    • Continue watering flowerbeds at least once a week during dry periods.
    • Plant or transplant oriental poppies.
      Do not mulch, as they prefer hot, sun-baked ground.
    • Bring poinsettias indoors.
    • By the end of the month, start withholding water from amaryllis.
      Amaryllis requires an eight-week period of drought to bloom.
      Place in cool basement for 3-month rest.
    • Sow cover crops in vegetable garden areas not in use.
    • Cut and dry or freeze herbs. Pick herbs just before
      blossoms open for best flavor.
    • Inspect corn regularly. Corn pests become abundant in mid-August.
    • Keep eggplant and peppers picked so younger fruit develops.
    • Plant late crops of radishes, lettuce, spinach and beets.
    • Mid-August to mid-September is the best time to establish grass seed.
      Keep soil moist at all times or seed will dry and die.
    • Plant evergreens now through mid-September so they are
      well established before winter.
    • Remove thatch from lawn if more than 1/2 inch thick.
    • Tip layer black and purple raspberries for replacement.
    • Fertilize strawberries with 10-10-10 fertilizer applied at
      2-3 pounds per 100 square feet. Thin plants if needed.
    • Maintain lime-sulfur spray program on tree fruit to control apple
      and pear scab and certain other diseases.
    • Collect and bury diseased, mummified plums for future brown-rot control. Reference: Portage County Master Gardener Newsletter.
      UW Extension Portage County, Pg.6.
Support Extension