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July was hot and dry, with hardly any rain. We will have to get used to that. The plants suffer from the heat and the lack of water. They grow more slowly or dry out, become weaker and are more susceptible to diseases or pests. That is why you should water them properly now. That means enough, but not too much, as water is scarce in midsummer.
Water your plants early in the morning. Then it is still relatively cool and the dewy soil absorbs water better. In addition, the soil is cool, so the water does not trigger a temperature shock. The plants absorb the cool water better and have more time to dry. Water drops on the leaves can cause burns in the summer heat. That is why you should not shower your plants, but water them in the root area, and never water in the blazing midday sun. Water properly once rather than a little twice or three times a day.
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You will save the most water if you water your plants properly in midsummer.
Although it has hardly rained this summer, you should collect rainwater. Set up a barrel, preferably next to a rain gutter. The water doesn't cost a centime, and some plants tolerate rainwater better than chlorinated or chalky tap water. Put a lid on the barrel to prevent the water from evaporating. Even more water-saving tips:
In August you should fertilise the lawn one last time so that it grows densely and is resistant to weeds. The easiest way is to use an adjustable spreader so that the fertiliser is evenly distributed and the lawn grows evenly. Because the lawn grows more slowly in summer, you should not mow it as often. Then it will also survive the drought better. If you discover dried out or thinned out areas, you don't have to do anything, the lawn will recover without reseeding. If you want to reseed the lawn or flower meadow, now is the time to do it.
There is a lot of work to do in the ornamental garden: pruning trees and shrubs, replanting woody plants and perennials, controlling pests and fertilising one last time. Deciduous hedges such as beech or privet should be re-trimmed, thuja need regular pruning so that they grow densely and evenly. When pruning hedges, take care not to cut into the old wood from the side. It can take years for such injuries to grow over. Now is planting time for hardy bulbs such as autumn crocus, meadow saffron, iris, lilies, Madonna lilies or day lilies. From the end of August until November you can plant the bulbs for late winter bloomers or spring bloomers.
Cut off withered flowers, maybe your flowers will bloom again. If you leave the flowers, you can get seeds from them for sowing next year.
In August you can harvest tomatoes, peppers and beans, but you can also still sow or plant a lot for the autumn. For example, bush beans, Chinese cabbage, endive, fennel, lettuce, chard, pak choi, parsley, radishes, radish, spinach, winter purslane or winter onions. You should fertilise chilli, peppers and tomatoes one last time in August. Break off the superfluous shoots every week to increase the yield. In the case of tall plants, for example pole tomatoes, you should now cut back the main shoot so that the fruit ripens fully.
Cucumbers and tomatoes should not dry out, otherwise they will not continue to grow. That is why you need to water the plants extensively in August and keep the soil evenly humid.
Give open beds a breather. Use green manure to bind nitrogen and fertilise the soil. Bitter lupine, buckwheat or lamb's lettuce are suitable for this.
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In August you harvest the last strawberries of this year. Strawberries bear fruit for two years. Cut off old leaves about 10 centimetres above ground level, fertilise the soil with 15 grams of stock material per square metre and water the soil abundantly. Plant offshoots of strawberry bushes that have borne many berries and have strong roots directly in the bed before mid-August. Plants with weaker roots can be grown in a pot first and repotted later. Do not plant the bushes too deep into the soil, the centre bud must remain clearly visible.
Be careful when picking apples, pears or plums. Ask someone to hold your ladder or use a fruit picker with a telescopic handle. This way you can also reach the fruit in the crown of the tree. Pick up fallen fruit regularly so that pests do not infest the tree. Maple, cherry and walnut trees, unlike other fruit trees, do not need to be pruned until autumn.
Strawberry bushes grow better and bear more strawberries if no strawberries have been grown in the same bed for four years. It also helps to prevent diseases.
Potted plants and the flowers or vegetables in the raised bed also need more water in August. Water the pots and raised beds extensively early in the morning and protect the soil from drying out with a layer of mulch. With a water-saving drip irrigation system with a timer or moisture sensor, you can sleep a quarter of an hour longer in the morning and don't have to ask your neighbours to water the plants during your holidays. In August you should clean out the summer flowers, cut back shoots that are too long and stop fertilising in the middle or end of the month. Fill the gaps in the pots and raised beds with autumn-flowering plants.
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Summer stresses indoor plants. They suffer from heat, lack of water and too much or too little light. Especially if you have been on holiday and the neighbours have not checked on your plants every day. Water the houseplants thoroughly until the soil is properly soaked and pour off the excess water. If this is not enough, place the pots in a basin filled with water for an hour so that the soil soaks up the water. Let the water drip off before placing the pot in the planter, otherwise the roots will rot. Cut off dry or yellowed leaves only after a week, they often recover after the water bath.
With the Plant Guide you will always know how much water your plants need. If your neighbours don't know Houzy yet, recommend the free plant manager to them.
Largemouth weevils eat the leaves of many ornamental plants. August and September are the best times to control the nocturnal pests. The best and most environmentally friendly way is with nematodes. These are small threadworms that penetrate and kill the larvae or pupae of thick-mouthed weevils and garden leaf beetles. Ornamental plants are the target of many pests in August:
