August Gardening Checklist

Design and InstallationFirewoodGarden Caregarden TriviaIndoor plantsPlant Health Care
Written By Peter Morris

Introduction

For gardeners, August is a pivotal month for checking up on things.  Here is our list.

Insects

Bagworms have stopped feeding and are now attached to twigs or other structures. Spraying insecticides at this time of year is ineffective – simply manually remove the hanging bags.

Look out for late-stage Lantern fly nymphs on any shrub or tree with a thin bark.

Watch for fall webworm activity – particularly pear, apple or crabapple.

Pine needle scale crawlers may be present on Mugo and Scotch pines. Treat as needed.

Iris borer moths emerge from the soil to lay eggs on iris leaves in late August.

Check lawn for sod webworm, larvae are feeding throughout the month.  Also check for white grubs.

Look out for squash bugs. Destroy any egg masses, and use proper treatment for any adults/nymphs.

Monitor plants for spider mite activity. Particularly boxwood ! Hose off with a forceful spray of water.

Bagworm

They particularly like cypress and cedar family plants like Arborvitae.

Webworm

These insects enclose the leaves in a web so they can eat undisturbed while hidden inside.

Disease

Wisteria, peonies, lilacs and phlox should be checked for mildew. Now is the time to treat.

Powdery Mildew

Lilacs are a mildew magnet !

Fertilizing

Roses should receive no further fertilization after mid-August.

Deadhead annuals and perennials to encourage a new flush of blooms for the fall.

Roses

No more feeding ! - or you get weak fall growth.

Pruning and staking

Panicle and Annabelle hydrangeas may flop over with the weight of flower heads. This is normal and removal is optional. Staking is encouraged.

Divide irises, Hosta and daylilies as needed.

Lightly prune hedges for the last time this season.

Hydrangea paniculata

I never prune the blooms - I find them so amazing !

Fall planting

Sow seeds of beets, kohlrabi, lettuce, mustard, peas, radishes, spinach, and turnips now for the fall garden. Spinach may germinate better if seeds are refrigerated for one week before planting.

Broccoli, cabbage, and cauliflower transplants should be set out now for the fall garden.

Swiss Chard

One of my favorite Fall veggies.

Harvesting

Thornless blackberries and fall-bearing red raspberries are ripening now.

And Don’t get stung !

Yellowjackets, wasps, and hornets are still around and are attracted to any sweet food/drink left out.

And there you have it – our August Checklist !

call us if you need help – (718) 392 9404


GREENING NEW YORK FOR OVER 53 YEARS !





Article written by our Staff Horticulturist, Peter B Morris, BSc, MSc, MBA

All photographs used with permission from our own customers gardens !

Peter Morris

Peter was born and raised on a beautiful green island in the midst of a tropical rainforest. He was introduced into the world of plants at the age of six when his grandmother, an avid Spanish gardener herself, asked him to help her grow seeds for her pepper garden. He was hooked! By the time he was a teen, he had his own rose and orchid collection numbering in the hundreds. Botany was in his blood, and that is what he set out to study.

His passion brought him to NY in the late seventies to further his education. His tenacity allowed him to work full time at Plant Specialists while he completed a MS in Plant Biology. As a manager at the time he felt unsatisfied with his knowledge of business and business processes. Peter felt compelled to learn, so he then pursued and completed an MBA in Quality Management within a few short years.

Peter’s other passion is teaching. His natural ability is quickly consumed by our staff in all subjects in Botany, Horticulture, and Landscaping. He created an immense reference library of more than 3,500 plants providing an invaluable resource for our staff.

Peter’s breadth of knowledge and wisdom allows him to effectively diagnose the needs of plants. Sometimes just by walking into a garden he can create a prescription that fixes even the hardest issue. He is our Staff Botanist, Diagnostician, and all around Mentor. Recently, he has put his immense knowledge and skills into developing a new department that focuses on Plant Healthcare. As he puts it, “Magic through Science”. The PHC staff that surround him have avidly consumed his teachings. Substantially developing their own plant wisdom, many have taken on difficult plant health issues with spectacular results.

Plant Healthcare has been an instant success with customers! The proper treatment of insects and diseases including Organic methods has made pest control a necessity for every plant. Correcting hormonal imbalances caused by planting in containers or refurbishing soils leached of nutrients by irrigation systems are big challenges PHC has become quite comfortable addressing. The scientific approach to the complex demands of keeping plants healthy in our harsh city environment has made many a customer say WOW!

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