AS THE “DOG days of summer” descend upon us, August is the time to heat things up in your garden or around your yard.
So with that in mind, how about one of my baker’s dozens of glorified garden chores?
Which, if done in aggregate, will surely have your place looking tip-top for this time of year.
1. Shape it up.
In early August, while there is plenty of good growing weather to mature the resulting stimulated growth, shape prune your landscape plants. Cut them out of your window’s view, off the house, out of your driveway, away from the gate or back from the sidewalk. Remember, thinning cuts, removing a branch at the exact point where it radiates from another stem, branch or trunk, are perfect cuts now.
2. Let soil breathe.
If you have not cultivated your soil in the last month, get in there with your hand tools and lightly till up the soil surface. The crust that has developed is trapping harmful gases down in the soil and causing water to run off. Cultivating will also help eradicate weeds, as well as improve your soil fertility.
3. Tie one on.
With the arrival of August, many of your plants are big, bushy blankets of foliage, flower or produce. Drive in stakes, build a trellis, wrap around a new support cage, and add new ties or prop up an overburdened fruit tree’s branch, for soon things can come crashing down.
4. Crash things down.
I just removed 54 small Alders and conifers from my beautiful Victoria view. If plants shield your view of bird baths, favorite plants, the mountains or the sea, now while the weather is nice, open things up and see summer.
4. Slug patrol.
Already the dew is becoming thick on the early morning grass as the day length shortens. Very soon a whole new army of voracious slugs will be unleashed on your yard, just in time to devastate your vegetables and flowers. So please, replenish your pet-safe-only slug bait, for it is most likely worn off by now.
5. Fall flower power.
Never forget we have the most premier fall growing conditions for your yard on the North Olympic Peninsula, so you would be negligent if you did not take full advantage of our unique climate by taking several trips these next few weeks to your favorite plant vendors. As areas in your yard present themselves, add an array of fall flowering perennials, many of which will look marvelous well into November or even December.
6. Don’t be negligent.
Why more people don’t purposely select fall foliage trees, bushes and shrubs for the yard is totally beyond me. Fall is beautiful with all its leaf colors. Trees, bushes and shrubs planted now will perform well in your yard this year if watered thoroughly. Your favorite plant vendors are eager to help you select a few that are ideal for your location, soil and particular needs.
7. Bone meal.
Do you want to know what the secret to having your bulbs, perennials, vines, flowering shrubs and bushes flower do extremely well next year is? Bone meal is the miracle drug of the bulb-type, if it is applied in these next couple of weeks.
8. Renew it.
I said it before, but must stress it again this week — if you have a vegetable garden, restart now or add new plants. Not next week, not in a few days — now! You will not believe the fabulous success and superior quality the vegetable garden will put forth in September and October.
9. Stay succulent.
That is what we want our fruit to be, but if you have not deeply watered your fruit trees or have grass under them, the moisture is depleted. Water well now (an inch or more) and then again in 2 to 3 weeks, so your fruit is juicy and your tree does not start to abort its own fruit.
10. Photojournalism.
Now is the perfect time to photographically record your yard so you have a reference to what works, what did not, how big or small something gets, and of course to preserve your bragging rights.
11. Feed the beast.
Your lawn is a glutton for nutrient — the pig is at the trough. With all that watering you have done, the food is leached away or used up in new blade production. Now is the perfect time to apply organic fertilizer.
12. Garden party.
Do you really need to be told to host a few outside socials? I hope not. Enjoy the fruits of your labor and the accolades you deserve. Besides, there are few things more enjoyable than a good time with friends out in the garden.
So please … stay well all!
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Andrew May is a freelance writer and ornamental horticulturist who dreams of having Clallam and Jefferson counties nationally recognized as “Flower Peninsula USA.” Send him questions c/o Peninsula Daily News, P.O. Box 1330, Port Angeles, WA 98362, or email news@peninsuladailynews.com (subject line: Andrew May).
