August 2015 Tips

If you’re receiving the garden tips for the first time, thanks for signing up. It’s hard to believe watering has become an issue after all the rain we had in July but it is. It’s important to keep plants hydrated during this hot dry weather. When plants are weakened from lack of water it makers them susceptible to both insect damage and disease. Plants are no different than people, if they are distressed their immunities are down.  The following are some tips for August: - When watering, check to make sure the water has gotten down to the root level. You can use a shovel or trowel to make a wedge and check the moisture level. Usually 6 – 8 inches is sufficient. - It’s better to water long and deep once a week, then lightly more often. - Check your plants regularly for signs of insect or disease. Determine the cause, and if any action is necessary BEFORE you arbitrarily spray a pesticide. - A few holes in your leaves are not necessarily a disaster. Beneficial insects have to eat too. Remember butterflies and moths come from caterpillars. - By early August, discontinue fertilizing all plants except annuals. Perennials, trees and shrubs are starting their slow down into winter dormancy. They need to rest, not try and push out new growth. - A good way to prevent seeded annual weeds is by cutting them back and removing the seeds, before they are disbursed. If you don’t have time to weed well, at least you can cut off the seed heads. - Mid-August to mid-September is ideal for starting grass seed. If you have some bare spots or thinning turf, you can over seed during this time. Simply scatter some seed right over the existing grass and bare spots. If the bare spot is larger than a few inches, it’s best to loosen the soil a little so the seed makes good contact with the ground. - When buying grass seed make sure to match your sight requirements to the type of seed. - This is a good time to give your lawn a top-dressing of compost. It will help develop a strong root system for next season. - If you want to take cuttings of annuals to winter over, now is a good time. Cuttings need to be taken while the plants are in their prime.  - Dividing and transplanting perennials is ideal once the weather cools down and we get more rain. With all the rain this July, many perennials grew by leaps and bounds and need to be divided. Keep in mind, plants that are overcrowded are prone to fungal disease. Transplanting things in late summer allows the roots to set in before winter and saves time in the spring.  Lessons from Nature Garden Classes: I’ll be having 2 gardening classes in my gardens one during the day and the other in the evening. Both classes will cover: how to assess success and failure in your garden and what to do about it, when & how to divide perennials, controlling pests and disease, overwintering plants, starting cuttings and critter protection.   Dates: 8 -28 at 12:30 PM and 9 – 2 at 7:00 PM, cost $20 per person. Each participant will get a free perennial appropriate for their garden. Maximum of 6 people, reservations required.   The Cornell Cooperative Extension Master Gardeners of Erie Co. will once again offer a series of 3 gardening classes this fall: 9/30 – HOW TO DEAL WITH NUISANCE WILDLIFE - Connie Adams, Senior Wildlife Biologist for the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation, will present.  Her program will include methods for dealing with a wide variety of wildlife in rural, suburban and urban settings 10/7 - EVERYTHING HYDRANGEAS - Carol Ann Harlos, Master Gardener will cover types of hydrangeas, planting, growing, propagating, purchasing, and weeding Hydrangeas.    10/14 - RIGHT PLANT – RIGHT PLACE - Natalie Twining, Master Gardener, will discuss how to assess what will grow well in your garden and improve your garden success covering sun, water and soil.  The cost is $15 per class or all 3 for $40. To register contact CCE, Erie Co. 652-5400, ext. 177 or [email protected] or send your check to Master Gardeners, CCE Erie Co., 21 S. Grove St., E Aurora, NY 14052. Lockwood’s Fall Garden Fair - Saturday and Sunday, September 12 and 13. Check their website for details and registration. Lessons from Nature Fall Perennial Sale I have lots of plants that can’t wait until spring to be divided or moved. The sale will be a dig it fresh from my garden event over the span of a few days. Plants will be put in bags rather than potted up and because I don’t have to pot them up and care for them, the cost will be very reasonable. A full list of available plants and dates for the sale will be in an upcoming tips. The sale will be by appointment only, probably early September depending on how the weather goes.   Happy Gardening! Lyn Chimera Lessons from Nature 170 Pine St., E. Aurora, NY 14052 716-652-2432 [email protected]   Copyright © 2014 Lessons From Nature, All rights reserved. You're receiving this message because you requested to receive Lessons from Nature newsletters. 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