Extra heat and sunshine calls for dutiful attention to watering in the month of August. Although your landscape’s lush greenery and bountiful harvests may still be your landscape’s focal point, autumn’s chill is actually just around the corner. Here is a brief checklist of landscaping tasks for Colorado gardeners this August.
Keep an eye on watering. Water trees deeply and make sure to cover root zones — don’t just water around the base. Check your flowers and vegetables at least twice per day to make sure they’re not wilting or showing other signs of thirst. Remember, it’s best to water in the early morning when it’s hot outside.
Support top-heavy plants. These will need to be staked to prevent toppling or breakage. To accomplish this task, choose sturdy stakes and use soft, flexible ties that will not injure stems. Remember, the main purpose is to keep flowers and fruit off the ground to prevent breakage. There should be a gap between the stem and stake for airflow.
Prepare for fall. Start deadheading and removing dead or diseased foliage. It’s best to keep up with this now to save yourself extra work when cooler weather hits. If you plan to grow a cool season vegetable crop, now is the time to prepare the beds and start seeding.
Keep up with the harvest. Leaving produce on vines attracts insects. Avoid inadvertently feeding pests by checking for any vegetables or fruits that are ready to be picked.
Assess your landscape for changes that should be made. So much is in bloom in August, making this an ideal time to see how your landscape will function and look aesthetically. Make notes about plants or landscape features you might want to replace or add. Decide if your hardscaping design still matches your outdoor needs, so you can use the colder months to plan any changes.
Attending to your landscape can be a lot of work, especially in August, but we can help. Contact us at Lifescape Colorado to learn more about the garden maintenance services we provide.