- During the absence of rain provide your plants a deep, thorough watering every three to five days for new plantings and every seven days for established plantings. It is better to water deeper and less frequent than to water often for shorter periods.
- Remember to continue watering newly planted trees three times per week, maybe more if we reach 100 degrees several days in a row.
- Placing a layer of mulch over the soil surfaces under plants will prevent water evaporation. Mulch also deters weeds growing in the beds.
- Plant fall flowering bulbs like Red Spider Lily and Crinum Lilies.
- Late August to early September is pruning time for shrub roses. Prune away no more than 1/3 of the plant, concentrating on dead wood, crossing branches and immature growth. Then fertilize with a good rose food. We recommend organic Rose Tone by Espoma.
- Composting trees and shrubs this month will provide plants with the nutrients they need for the fall.
- Watch for signs of chinch bugs in the lawn. The signs that these insects are present are drought symptoms next to driveways, sidewalks and / or curbing.
Trim annual plants that look overgrown. This will bring about a new flush of growth and make them really shine in the fall.
Those plants trimmed back this month, feed them to give them a boost. An application of Osmocote 14-14-14 worked into the top inch of soil will feed the plants for the next 3-4 months. The Hill Country Landscape sells this product for $2.50 a pound.
With fall around the corner and the nights are getting longer, some plants will be stimulated to bloom. Some fall blooming plants include: Fall Obedient plant, Fall Asters, Chrysanthemums, Mexican Bush Sage, Mexican Mint Marigold, and Copper Canyon Daisy.
The appropriate time to sheer Red Tip Photinias is at the end of the month. This will make them grow fuller and they will be ready for the cool season’s show of the tips turning red.
Watering the lawn is so important this month. Sometimes Austin has thunderstorms this month, but unless the showers provide at least ½ to 1 inch of water the lawn still needs to be watered. Water early in the morning because watering at night does not give the grass time to dry and wet grass encourages various disease problems.
This is an important time to fertilize reblooming roses. Providing extra nutrient at this time allows shrub roses to flower once more before winter
At the end of the month, it is time to plant the fall vegetable garden. If you are able to carry tomato plants through the heat they can be cut back or root cuttings taken for a new fall crop. Some garden centers will carry fall transplants of tomatoes. Make sure to inspect all plants for bugs and treat appropriately. Squash and cucumber seeds can be planted this month.
It is time to plant seeds of green beans. In bulk, Hill Country Landscape carries Kentucky Wonder bush and Sugar Snap Pole at a cost of 50 cents a tablespoon.
Work compost into the soil early this month to prepare your beds for cool season crops like: broccoli, cauliflower, lettuce, collards and kale.
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