Gardening
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California Gardener's August Checklist
Share the veggie wealth, help plants sip smartly and don't forget to enjoy the simple pleasure of relaxing in your garden
I'm lead landscape designer at Grace Design Associates, a custom landscape design-build firm headquartered in Santa Barbara, CA. I’m a self-taught landscape designer and contractor with a degree in biology and minor in geology.
I’ve been hooked on gardening ever since I laid eyes on the teeny tiny Swiss Chard plant that sprang forth from the first improbable-looking seed I ever planted at the age of 10. I learned the practical side of design and construction from my very creative and resourceful (that is to say, broke) DIY parents, followed by a spate of home remodels in my twenties (seven houses in seven years!).
I definitely came to landscaping through a different door and I carry a different set of tools from my university trained colleagues. My designs are conceived as...
I'm lead landscape designer at Grace Design Associates, a custom landscape... More »
August is synonymous with heat and drought in most areas of Southern California. Feel free to put those ambitious garden projects on hold until things cool down. Focus on watering needs, harvesting summer crops and fire safety.
Finally, don't forget to include some of the most important of summer's garden activites this month: Make time for reading a book, chillaxin' with friends, playing a little music, napping in the shade or simply contemplating your navel.
Finally, don't forget to include some of the most important of summer's garden activites this month: Make time for reading a book, chillaxin' with friends, playing a little music, napping in the shade or simply contemplating your navel.
Potted plants. If your potted plants are drying out too quickly, consider a strategy that will help retain soil moisture and keep plant roots cooler:
• Move pots where they get some afternoon shade.
• Mass containers together so that they shade one another’s roots. (Be sure to allow for sufficient air circulation and light penetration.)
• Use lighter-colored pots for lower heat gain.
• Use larger containers — with a higher mass-to-surface-area ratio, the relative root area exposed to the solar-heated pot is reduced.
• Use porous containers (for example, terra-cotta vs. glazed ceramic); evaporation cools the surface of the pot.
• Use trailing plants to shade the pot’s surface.
• Move pots where they get some afternoon shade.
• Mass containers together so that they shade one another’s roots. (Be sure to allow for sufficient air circulation and light penetration.)
• Use lighter-colored pots for lower heat gain.
• Use larger containers — with a higher mass-to-surface-area ratio, the relative root area exposed to the solar-heated pot is reduced.
• Use porous containers (for example, terra-cotta vs. glazed ceramic); evaporation cools the surface of the pot.
• Use trailing plants to shade the pot’s surface.
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| Mulch. Add mulch to help control weeds, retain soil moisture and keep soil cool. |
by Grandin Road
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Water. Cool morning hours are best for watering, because evaporation rates are low and foliage dries quickly, reducing the likelihood of fungal problems such as black spot, rust and powdery mildew. Water deeply, thoroughly and infrequently to encourage deeply rooted plants, which are better able to withstand drought. ("Infrequently" means allow the top few inches of soil around established plants to dry between waterings.) Most lawns and veggies need a total of about 1 inch of water per week.
Tip: Don’t waste water with light, shallow watering. The water evaporates from the soil before it can actually reach the root zone.
Tip: Don’t waste water with light, shallow watering. The water evaporates from the soil before it can actually reach the root zone.
Compost. Water your compost pile if it tends to dry out in the heat of the summer. Without sufficient moisture, the compost won’t “cook” (that is, break down into usable organic material). Soaking wet is a bad idea, however — you’ll wind up with a nasty, smelly mess. You’ll know you’ve got the moisture content right if your compost pile is giving off heat and the material is breaking down without giving off a foul odor.
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by Leslie Ebert
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| Deadheading, pruning, tip pinching.
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by Andrew Renn
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| Train vines. This is the season of rapid growth. Train vines on support structures while they're still manageable. Ask anyone who’s ever had a rambunctious vine get out of hand and you’ll appreciate the value of doing this task early and often. |
Fertilizing. A light feeding followed by thorough watering is still OK for actively growing warm-season lawns. Ditto for nuts, citrus and stone fruit. Avoid applying too much fertilizer, though — it’s too hot in August to force a lot of tender new growth.
Weeding. With August’s increased irrigation and warmth, weeds tend to come on fast, robbing water and nutrients intended for desirable plants. Yank weeds up by the root to reduce competition for resources. Remove weeds before they go to seed to save yourself a ton of weeding next year.
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| Peak harvest time. Pick, eat, preserve, make sauces and jams, dry, freeze, swap and give away fresh fruits and vegetables. If you can’t keep up, call your local food pantry to see if it has a backyard-harvest program. Many communities have a system for collecting excess fresh produce and making it available to families in need. U-pick time. August is prime time to support your local farmer. Do a little research on what’s available nearby and take a little road trip with some friends to harvest summer produce directly from the field or orchard. Disease prevention. Fallen fruit and rotting vegetables may be harboring next year's disease and pest problems. Don't allow spoiled produce to accumulate. Collect and toss it in the compost heap regularly. |
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| Fire readiness. Annual weeds and heavy brush should have already been cleared in areas at high risk of fire. Most fire departments recommend that if you haven’t done your brush clearing yet, don't do so at this point if you're planning to use power tools. The risk of equipment-sparked fires is extremely high now that plant moisture content is low. |
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| Chill. Take in the pleasures of the August garden: read a book, play some music and take a nap. More: Planting guides for your California garden Browse flowers, plants and garden design ideas |
Ideabook published on July 28, 2012.
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