Five Garden Tips Thursday

 

It’s a quick five for Thursday that relate to the mid-August garden. So if you have a few minutes to spare, here’s a quick refresher for the must-do/honey-do list before September rolls into town.

First, don't miss the perfect window for fertilizing your perennials. Just like you, tons of energy has been expended during the growing season of your garden. So in order to complete the cycle and head into the winter months with a clean bill of health, a shot of fert can go a long way into creating a flourishing perennial bed next spring.

Next is often the least favorite chore - that un-pretty part of gardening. Yes, it’s the never-ending deadheading and weed control that went bonkers during the summer heat while you weren’t looking. Now it must be encountered. Good luck with keeping your hands clean and your clippers sharp. Mid-August is catch-up time for this one particular chore. But look on the bright side of things. Check out the next tip in line.

Harvest time – hooray! Whether it’s produce from your own garden or the local farm stand, it’s time to harvest the goodies and jam, can and freeze. Or simply enjoy the freshness that comes only from locally grown produce in the soil you know best.

This 4th tip is a pleasure. It’s time to dig into the Peonies and bulb orders to claim the best stock available for your fall plantings. Have some favorites? We do. Feel free to share your must-have bulbs and Peonies that you just can’t find browsing through the local garden retail store.

Last but not least, a shout-out to the lawn-lovers. Get prepared as it tis the season – the beginning of September is around the corner. Time to aerate, thatch, slice seed, and renovate your lawn. It’s been said here before but this is the best way to make lawn healthy so it can handle the more difficult months of summer. If you plan on renting any of the equipment necessary to do the above chores or want to schedule a company to do it for you, get your name on the list now because once September rolls around, equipment and labor can be mighty hard to come by.

That’s the quick five for Thursday. It’s time to wrap up the tips for mid-August and get on with the day that sprawls ahead. As Jeannine Mobley states, “It won’t be a chore, it will be a garden.” And if your garden has sprawled beyond perfect, remember these five mid-summer tips.

Image by Ann Bilowz ©

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