Dog Tired in the Dog Days
As August arrives, gardeners and their gardens are tired. Many locations are hot and dry, while others may be hot and water-logged. Plants are stressed. Getting out and doing the work of weeding, watering and tending seems a lot more onerous now than it was back in May and June. Returning from a relaxing vacation may mean dealing with out-of-hand situations, including plants that have either become overgrown or breathed their last during an interval of inattention.
Editing is Easy
If you are feeling the August garden doldrums, don’t stress. Remedy the situation by doing the easiest things first. Take out the clippers and loppers and cut back perennials and shrubs that have grown beyond the bounds of decency, or at least beyond the bounds of their assigned spots in the garden. Harvest those tomatoes that are hanging from the vines, along with any other fruits and vegetables that are ready. Haul out plants that have died from drought or inattention, and don’t feel guilty doing so. You are not capitulating to failure; you are creating spaces for new and different plantings.
If the weather is unbearably hot and sticky, work in short increments. The days are still relatively long, so pruning and editing in the early morning or early evening is still possible.
Find empty spaces in your in-ground plantings, as well as in container gardens and window boxes. Take pictures so that you can refer to them on the next trip to the garden center.
Annual Analysis
By August, annuals like zinnias, snapdragons and impatiens that were perky in June and abundant in the first part of July, may be leggy and tired. Many are good candidates for rejuvenation. If you haven’t been deadheading regularly, do so now. Cut back extremely leggy stems by two thirds, and all others by about one third. Afterwards, feed and water the plants thoroughly. Many annuals will rebound after these horticultural spa treatments, and with regular deadheading, food and moisture, will keep on surging through the first frost.
Easily rooted plants like coleus, tradescantia and members of the mint family are great candidates for propagation by cuttings. As you are trimming back the plants, take the clipped stems, remove lower leaves, and place in a glass of water. Within a few days roots will start to appear, and the cuttings can be planted out. This will ensure fall color for very little effort.
Get thee to a garden center
And finally, get into an air conditioned vehicle and take a trip to the local garden center. See what is most colorful and appealing on the plant pallets, and make the purchases that will bring renewed life to those dowdy garden spaces.
Sometimes garden centers repurpose leftover annuals, combining different varieties into container or hanging basket arrays. Buy them and use them as is, or take them home and deconstruct them, installing the component plants at various places in the garden or in your own containers.
Don’t forget foliage interest. A vivid lime green sweet potato vine or an exuberantly colored coleus can make a world of difference when strategically positioned in beds or container arrangements.
Many garden centers have sales at this time of the year, to clear the way for incoming fall plants. Scout the sale racks carefully, looking for those annuals and perennials that may look a little distressed, but still have plenty of potential. Self-seeding plants like novella, various poppies and snapdragons have “now and later” capabilities. Rejuvenating them will add to your displays now, and self-seeding will mean more flowers next year.
Top it Up With Tropical’s
Nothing boosts a weary planting scheme more than a well-placed tropical or two. Plant in-ground if you have the space and inclination, or scatter containerized specimens wherever ‘holes” in the garden pop up. Think about adding hibiscus, mandevilla or canna. A few caladiums can work wonders. The bright colors draw the eye, and a well-cared for tropical plant will keep on producing flowers and/or colorful foliage until the temperatures start to dip below 50 degrees Fahrenheit at night. At that point the fall plants will have taken over, and you can lift or store the tropicals.
Never Give Up
No matter how hot it gets, how much crabgrass has appeared in the beds, or how distressed your formerly lovely containers look, don’t give up. Salvation is at hand and getting it via late summer rejuvenation takes relatively little time and work.
