 August here in the South is HOT, and HUMID, and we call it the dog days of the south. Hot and yucky is how we feel. Well this also applies to your garden in August. Watering, composting, and adding top-soil dressing is important. I have gathered a few notes from the Georgia Department of Agriculture website and aded my thoughts to share with you. I have a Gardening by Month book, but I can't find it right now.
Water
Water each of your plants as needed based on the plant type and the instructions you have. Make sure not to let the container gardening plants dry out too much, else they will get stressed and not produce as much.
Your basil is about ready to be harvested to make home-made pesto. Remember to water it well two days before and the day before, and the pick the leaves early in the morning so they are most plump and fresh, not wilted.
Get a head start on your fall lettuce crop by sowing seed indoors. Seeds will germinate better in cooler indoor temperatures than in hot summer soil. Plan to transplant seedlings into the gardens when the first one or two true leaves appear. You may want to provide some afternoon shade for several weeks.
Divide Daisies
Shasta daisies often persist through winter as a dark green ground cover in our area. This doubles their value in the landscape. Now is a good time to dig and divide crowded clumps. Dig the whole clump and divide it into equal sections. Fall division leads to better leaf growth in winter, followed by heavy flowering next spring.
Heres a good link to see more about growing Shasta Daisies
Sow Biennials
Indoors, start seeds of biennial flowers, such as foxglove, hollyhock, Siberian wallflower, and lunaria (also known as money plant). When set out in mid autumn, these short-lived perennials and biennials will bloom the following spring. If the weather is kind to them, they will continue to grow for another few years before dying off.
Root Cuttings
Take cuttings of favorite geraniums and any other "annual" flowers that you want to overwinter for replanting next year. Several popular bedding plants are perennial in warm climates and can be brought indoors as houseplants. Geraniums are one of the most commonly overwintered "annuals."
Organize Seeds
Store leftover seeds in tightly sealed glass jars in a cool, dark place. In the garden, collect seeds from flowers such as coneflowers and rudbeckia, and either replant immediately or place in jars for storage. You can also allow the plants to drop their seeds naturally, then plan to transplant new plants next spring. Marigolds are great about this.
Other notes:
Two or three leaves should be left when cutting gladiolus, so that the bulbs can ripen.
Transplant Oriental poppies now.
Rock-garden plants should be checked to see if they need thinning. Overcrowded plants will not stay healthy or attractive.
Sow these perennials outdoors for next spring: aquilegia, Phlox paniculata, digitalis, centaurea, and primrose.
Cut back the flower stalks of perennials that have finished blooming.
Cut spent delphinium flower stalks off and a new, though smaller, flower stalk will develop. The plant will survive the coming cold days and even light frosts.
Georgia Department of Agriculture website http://agr.georgia.gov
Photo of Shasta Daisies, copyright Michael Gokey, 20080810
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