They’ll perk back up soon.While you might think “Deadheading” is a reference to the Grateful Dead, it actually means removing the flowers that are spent or past. Accept August! Plants are hunkered down, like we are.Water fruit and nut trees deeply to avoid fruit drop-off.Prune herbs often to encourage new growth.Keep a garden journal to note bloom times and insect habits.A brief shower doesn’t mean it penetrated to the roots. Even if rain comes, check the soil to 3” deep to make sure their roots have water. Store in jars, envelopes, or paper bags (not plastic) to plant next spring. Collect seeds from summer blooming plants.Solarize areas where you want to kill grass or weed pests for future planting. Think about next spring and the perennializing bulbs to add this fall.Explore native wildlflower seeds to plant this fall.Apply compost and mix in organic slow-release granular fertilizer to get ready for fall plantings If September brings cooler weather and rain, weed seeds will start to germinate. It’s very important to keep the grass high in August.Leave clippings on the lawn to naturally fertilize. Don’t remove more than 1/3 of the top at a time. Keep the roots cool by leaving the grass long. Remove damaged leaves to the trash (not the compost pile). Aphids and other insects can create sooty mold on plants, a fungus that develops from their secretions (honeydew).Aphids and other insects can plague crape myrtles and other trees in summer (“raining trees” are due to the honeydew secretions).Be sure to get the undersides of the leaves. It’s easy to spray them off with a hard blast of water. Fertilize every few weeks through growing season. Citrus with high nitrogen fertilizer like Citrus-tone.Foliar feed flowers and vegetables with liquid seaweed.
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