grean_tea | August to do in the garden (Reply)

August Garden To Dos

Water all trees/shrubs deeply at least once every three weeks if in the ground. Plants in containers may need daily water to survive.
Keep compost piles slightly moist, turn frequently.
Pick up and compost fallen fruit.
Stay cool—garden in the early morning or late afternoon. Avoid mid-day sun!

Prune berries when fruiting is finished.
Prune Apricots before rains to prevent Eutypa lata fungus from infecting pruning wounds.
Prop up fruit tree branches if needed to help with the fruit load.

Raise squash and cucumbers off the ground so pests cannot tunnel into the fruit.
Start seeds of fall vegetables: direct seed beets, onions, Swiss chard, carrots, parsley, spinach, peas; radishes, lettuce.
Start containers of broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, kale.
Plant a last row of corn to ripen in the fall.
Harvest vegetables frequently.

Plant fall blooming bulbs (Crocus, Lycoris).
Deadhead spent blossoms to keep plants blooming.
Divide bearded iris rhizomes if over three years of age.
Fertilize spring blooming plants- they are setting their buds now.
Fertilize warm season lawns.
For fall color, plant seeds of calendulas, Icelandic poppies, stock, snapdragons, sweet alyssum, sweet peas, violas.
Cut and dry summer flowers & herbs in dry shade.
Cut back straggly early summer color plants.
Fertilize chrysanthemums at the end of the month.

Drippy acorns? Drippy acorns are caused by a bacterium similar to Erwinia amylovora, the organism that causes Pear Fireblight. There is little to be done, just keep the plants as stress-free as possible and clean up fallen leaves regularly.
Check plants for mite damage. UC Pest Note on Spider Mites.