Typically August is our driest, hottest month. Continue to check new plantings or plants, which are not drought tolerant. Learning to group plants by water requirements will ultimately save you time and your efforts.  Call Back 2 Green if you have any questions over plant water needs. To minimize any stress during dry periods, water your trees adequately, mulching can also help moderate your tree's moisture level. Some trees that are more sensitive to drought-stress include the Japanese maples, Dogwoods, Birches along some in the Rhodie and Azalea family can defoliate due to drought stress. Deep watering during periods of extended drought will benefit your trees.

As daylilies finish flowering deadhead spent flower stems. This will encourage repeat bloomers, such as Stella de Oro and Happy Returns, to put out more flowers later in the month.                

August is the best time to divide iris and daylilies. Cut back the foliage to a small fan. Lift the clump and pry apart the rhizomes. Throw away the old center as well as any that have started to decompose and divide into single or double fan rhizomes. Allow rhizomes to dry at least one hour before replanting. This helps prevent rot. For repeat blooming daylilies, dividing should be done every 3-5 years or blooming will significantly diminish.

Reexamine your yard in this slower time. If you are not pleased with your garden's color consider adding shrubs, which flower now, such as panicle hydrangea types, rose of Sharon or seven-son flower. Perennials, which flower the most in August are abundant in your local nursery for example... Goldstrum rudbeckia, Chinese astilbe types, pink turtlehead, tube clematis and many hostas. Several ornamental grasses are at their best at this time of the year. Contact Back 2 Green if you need a bit of color in your landscape.

Back