It is often allege that the best weather in the Pacific Northwest is from August into October . Typically , this is the driest and the warm metre in our area . In August , late - ripening fruits and vegetables and other former - blooming annuals , perennial , and shrubs come into their own . It is also a great fourth dimension to enjoy all the hard body of work you have put in this time of year . But there are also a few job that take to be done this month to keep your garden in top shape for the residue of the summertime and into fall .
Collect seed . Many gardeners love to amass their own flower seeds during this clock time of year . With so many more people gardening for the first clip this year , incur seed from local nurseries , garden centers , and on-line origin has been challenge . Collecting germ is a great manner to make more plants inexpensively and to develop more plants that you fuck . you may also produce a seed - swop programme with your fellow gardener to try out with newfangled industrial plant . I like to evaluate which variety thrive in my garden and then collect source from those grasses , perennials , and annuals . Collecting ejaculate let me reseed exactly where I want the plants to raise and experiment with dissimilar growing conditions .
Thoroughly irrigate newfangled addition . ensure to thoroughly water fresh plant accession to your garden . Tree , bush , and perennials can be expensive . Watering them well is the best way to ensure they make it . ensure they are getting thick and thorough watering in August and into fall when the rains occur again in the Northwest . If raw accession do die , finding the same plants June 21 is a difficult chore ; they may have to be purchase the next season . This will give large gaps in your horticulture scheme . Deep tearing and ca-ca sure raw plants have batch of moisture - retaining mulch will assist their odds of survival .
Do some light pruning of ornamental trees and shrubs . August is a great time for sluttish pruning of some ornamental trees and shrub . This time of year , many trees , specially maples ( Acerspp . and cvs . , Zones 3–9 ) , will go summer - torpid and the sap will stop flow , allowing for light pruning . I would not do major redevelopment pruning now , as it would most likely kill your tree or bush . But it is a good time to lop to create place for light and air in the canopies . you may also remove branches that are at typeface grade to prevent scratched face or poked eyes , those that step in with movement in pathway and patios , or those that are visually stagnant or diseased . Just remember to make clean your shaft !
Clean your water features . We all love birdsong and the little feathered friends that water features and birdbath attract to our gardens . During the hot summertime months , check that to clean , rinse , and refill your water feature article . put up water can allow mosquito to breed , which if continued unchecked can twist your garden into a nightmare . I regularly check my workspace for empty pots and containers for standing water , and I empty them to prevent creating the consummate breeding ground for those pestilence .
Deadhead summertime - blooming annuals and perennials . To keep your summertime - blooming flowers in top shape , you ask to maintain them with frequent deadheading . This chore does take some time , but it will result in uninterrupted flowers all summer long . I prefer to use a fruit - pruning puppet or duo of shrewd garden scissors to do this line . As I always say , clean your pecker regularly with a dilute bleach solvent or rub alcohol between plants to prevent distribute disease among your plants . Dahlias ( Dahliaspp . and cvs . , Zones 7–11 ) , cocoa cosmos ( Cosmos atrosanguineus , Zones 7–9 ) , and dianthus ( Dianthusspp . and cvs . , Zones 4–8 ) are just a few case of plants that need consistent deadheading to keep flower all summer long .
invigorate your ground with natural covering crops . With so many of us grow our own yield and vegetables this year , using covering crops or green fertilizer is a great way to supplement your garden soil with added nutrients and help prevent soil loss . There are many case of plant you could grow to help oneself improve your dirt . Since most of us are not large - scurf James Leonard Farmer , I would avoid a monoculture covert crop but rather habituate a premix from your favored seed supplier . Botanical Interests , Renee ’s Garden , andJohnny ’s Seedsare a few of the source I have purchase cover - harvest seed mixes from to expend in my own garden for green fertiliser , all with adequate success . you could let them grow and turn them under for nightfall crop planting , or leave them in the seam or garden until bound for spring planting . Learn brood crops here .
Taking caution of your garden year - round in little snatch and man makes maintenance manageable and less strenuous . It also leaves clock time to love the garden you have created . I care you bully winner with tackling these job and others this August .
— Jason Jorgensen is a landscape painting designer in Seattle .
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Be sure to deadhead tender perennials like these ‘Princess Benedikte’ dahlias (Dahlia‘Princess Benedikte’, Zones 7–11).Photo: Jason Jorgensen
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Look out for your favorite plants going to seed this month, and save some seed for next year.Photo: Jason Jorgensen
Planting in August can be dangerous without special attention to deep watering.Photo: Paula Gross
Certain trees, such as Japanese maples (Acer palmatum, Zones 5–9), can be lightly pruned this month.Photo: Melissa Lucas
Remove any standing water to discourage mosquito congregation.Photo: Jason Jorgensen
‘Summer Sundae’ sweet William (Dianthus barbatus‘Summer Sundae’, Zones 3–9) and other dianthus can be deadheaded for repeat blooms.Photo: Michelle Gervais
Crimson clover is just one of many nourishing and good-looking cover crops that can benefit your soil.Photo: needpix.com
