August Garden Checklist

checkbox[1] Keep after tomato hornworms and petunia budworms with another application of Caterpillar Killer with Bt by Ferti-lome. It’s an effective, safe environmental control.

checkbox[1] Don’t forget your citrus! In order to get bumper crops, feed lemons, oranges, and other citrus monthly with Master’s Citrus Food. Remember to water the day before applying fertilizers. Also, avoid feeding or treating on extra hot days.

checkbox[1] Is your garden suffering from the summer blahs? Perk it up with colorful petunias, marigolds, vinca, and dahlias!

checkbox[1] Start working now to prevent fall weeds. Apply Bonide Weed Preventer plus Lawn Food. This product does a great job of creating a protective barrier to prevent the pesky annual bluegrass. If you plan to reseed your lawn next month, delay this application.

checkbox[1] Keep those flowerbeds neat and blooming! Deadhead (remove all old flowers). Cut back leggy petunias. Fertilize with Master Rose & Flower Food to encourage more flowers.

checkbox[1] Sow flower seeds. Many wildflowers and spring-blooming annuals grow from seeds scattered now. Try California Poppy or Baby Blue Eyes. Consider a California Wildflower Mix which would add a colorful splash and is drought tolerant.

checkbox[1] Keep your harvest coming! Feed with Master’s Tomato & Vegetable Food every 3 to 4 weeks.

checkbox[1] Hard to believe but it’s time to start planting winter vegetables from seed! The cabbage family members, root crops, and leafy vegetables such as broccoli, beets, carrots, radishes, onions, spinach, and chard are ready to be planted this month from seed. (Farmers in the valley are planting winter vegetable crops from seed this month.) Planting from seed now allows for a deep, established root system and a very long growing season resulting in larger harvests. Starter plants will start arriving when the weather cools (probably mid-September).

checkbox[1] Sunflowers are extremely easy to grow from seed in our area and those planted now will sprout and bloom by fall. This is one of the secrets of sunflowers. They make a great fall display. Choose from several varieties.

checkbox[1] August is a great time to refresh summer scorched Japanese Maples. Snip off crispy leaves even if it means de-leafing the plant. Feed with Master’s Formula 49 or Maxsea Acid Fertilizer. In four weeks to the day, your maple will look Spring refreshed. Just in time for the new leaves to color up for fall.

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