Former Iowa Certified Nurseryman and Oregon Certified Nursery Professional
@copy 2002-2024 Rodney A. Smith
All rights reserved.
Planting
Perennials can be started from seed, but sow deeper than normal.
Radishes and carrots can still be planted for a fall crop.
Fertilizing
Continue to feed lawns every six weeks.
Give roses and blooming plants one last feeding so they will harden off before winter.
Watering
Continue deep watering. Lawns need an inch of water each week when temperatures are near
70 degrees, more during hot weather. Plants will need extra water during hottest weather. Rhodies
and Hydrangeas growing in the sun can be cooled down by sprinkling them in the afternoon.
Pruning
Cut off old flowers to encourage repeat blooming.
Pruning overgrown deciduous trees and shrubs in the summer will slow down their
growth the following year and reduce overcrowding.
Early August is the last chance to prune hedges and still have some new growth to hide the
brown edges where leaves have been cut.
Pests
Continue to spray for leaf spot diseases and powdery mildew if plants are watered by
overhead sprinklers.
Spray rhododendrons twice a month through August for root weevils if the leaves have
notches on the edges.
Check rhododendrons and azaleas for tiny, light brown spots on the underside of the
leaves caused by lace bugs. Severely damaged leaves are almost white. Spray with a
product containing Imidacloprid, such as, Bayer Advanced Garden Tree and Shrub Insect
Control, or Spinosad, such as Captain Jack's Dead Bug Brew, to prevent lace bug damage.
Both are toxic to bees, so do not use on plants with open flowers.
Spider mites are a serious problem on arborvitae and needle leaf evergreens during
hot weather. Spraying once a month makes them worse. Apply two miticide sprays a
week apart, or according to directions on the package. Hosing down the plants once
a week with plain water also helps.
Use a lawn week killer for broadleaf weeds.
Check lawns for dead spots caused by common cranefly and billbugs.
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