Some late summer lawn and garden ideas

Although August is still summer in The Gayly’s region, it is time to start planning actions for your lawn and garden latter in the month and into September, as the days and nights get cooler. Here are a few hints for keeping things looking nice, now and in the next year.

Roses: Prune and fertilize your ever blooming roses now for a big show of fall flowers. Remove dead stems and shorten healthy canes by about one-third. Feed with a good rose fertilizer. Avoid black spot, powdery mildew and rust by not using an overhead sprinkler. Water your roses at least once a week if it doesn’t rain.

Autumn Perennials: Later August is a good time to plant fall flowers like old-fashioned Mums, and other plants. Put them near the front of your flower garden. They will develop mounds, and spill over the edge for a great display of color.

Shrubs: If you want to add flowering shrubs to your yard, late summer is a good time to plant them. The early start gives them a chance to get established before winter sets in.

Lawn: Now is a good time to establish fescue, perennial ryegrass and bluegrass. Hot and dry summers can wreak havoc on these varieties. And your Bermuda grass lawn may have gotten thin or gone dormant. Choose the variety of grass you want to have, purchase seed and fertilizer at your local home or garden store, and follow the instructions on the packages. Remember, tender seedlings take a while to spout, and need to be watered frequently to help them get established.

Bulbs: If you want to have a great display of tulips, hyacinths, iris, and other bulb flowers next Spring, you can take action now. Fall is a great time to plant bulbs, but bulbs need chill time, and our region’s climate isn’t necessarily providing that. Purchase your bulbs now, and place them in the vegetable bins of your refrigerator for at least six to eight weeks before planting.

The Gayly – August 16, 2015 @ 3:30pm.