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August Flower Gardening
Tips
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by Kathie Marlow, HCMG |
Perennials,
annuals and bulbs:
Take a few minutes to
pick off the dead
flowers on your annuals
and
perennial plants. A
little time spent
grooming the plants will
make a big difference in
the overall appearance
of the garden. By
removing the spent
flowers, the plants will
not go into the seed
producing stage and
should continue to
flower longer into the
season. Perennial and
biennial plants can be
started from seed sown
directly into the garden
this month or next.
Container grown perennials,
shrubs and trees can be
planted this month. Take
time to properly prepare
the soil by mixing
generous quantities of
peat moss, compost and
processed manure with
your existing soil.
Spring flowering perennials
can be divided and
transplanted this month
or next. Be sure to do
this during the coolest
part of the day and
water the plants
thoroughly after
transplanting. |
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Shrubs and trees:
Summer blooming shrubs
should be pruned for
shape after they have
finished flowering.
Remove any dead or
diseased branches. |
House plants:
In late August,
poinsettias and
Christmas cactus should
be brought back indoors
and you should begin
preparing them for
Christmas flowering.
Poinsettias are short
day plants. Although
they will eventually
bloom, if you want the
plants in bloom for the
holidays they must be
kept at about 65 to 70
degrees and subjected to
at least six weeks of 14
hours of total darkness
per day (mid to late
September). Place the
potted plant in a closet
or unlighted room, or
cover the plant with
black cloth, black
plastic over a frame or
a cardboard box. The
plant must then be
returned to the light
each day and given a
minimum of 4 hours of
direct sun, or 10 hours
of bright light. The
application of a 0-10-10
fertilizer this month
and again next should
help encourage the
development of flower
buds, then feed your
plant every 2 weeks with
a high nitrogen
fertilizer once color
has begun to show.
Christmas cactus needs the
same general care, with
the exception that they
require cooler
temperatures of about 50
to 60 degrees. Continue
to watch for insect or
disease damage and take
the necessary steps to
control the problem.
Warmer and drier weather
means it will be
necessary to water and
mist your house plants
more often. |
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