August Birth Flower - Gladiolus
Household Tips
- Check air pressure in tires for better gas mileage.
- Clean or replace heating filters.
- Inspect and clean chimney.
- Coat contact points on wooden drawers with wax for smoother operation.
- Soak match heads in linseed oil to waterproof them.
- Use soap on screw threads to make fastening to hardwoods easier.
- Fertilize houseplants with Sure Bloom.
Lawn and Garden Tips
- Trim shade trees.
- Late August or early September, prune Poinsettia 1/2 way on new growth if needed. They must have 12 hrs. of uninterrupted darkness every night through Thanksgiving.
- Deadhead annuals and perennials as needed. .
- Compost or till under residues from harvested crops.
- Broccoli, Cabbage and Cauliflower transplants should be set out during week 1 for the fall garden.
- Prop up branches of fruit trees that are threatening to break under the weight of a heavy crop.
- Soak shrubs periodically during dry spells with enough water to moisten the soil to a depth of 8 - 10 inches.
- Once bagworms reach full size, insecticides are ineffective. Pruning off and burning large bags provide better control.
- Begin planting lettuce and radishes for fall during weeks 2-4.
- August 15 should be the final feeding of roses with Bayer All-in-One Rose and Flower Care
- Check for grub damage. Brown grass will lift up like a piece of carpet. White "c" shaped worms will be visible. Best control at this time is Dylox. Water in 1/2" as soon as possible.
- If you have let your lawn go dormant, be sure to water once heavy every 2 to 3 weeks to keep lawn alive.
- Spray broadleaf weeds with Gordon's Speedzone and add Spreader Sticker or Bonide Weed Beater Ultra (already has spreader sticker)
- Continue to spray plants susceptible to spider mites with Organicide.