August Landscaping Guide
Flower Care
- Fertilize container plantings.
- Deadhead flowers to encourage additional blooming.
- Monitor for disease and insect problems and treat as needed.
- Divide bearded iris. For healthy plants, these should be divided every 3 to 5 years.
- Check rhizomes for iris borer caterpillars.
- Do not fertilize shrubs or roses after mid-August to discourage tender new growth before winter.
Lawn Maintenance
- Mow as necessary. Raise mowing height to at least 3” as temperatures exceed 85˚F.
- Water lawn adequately to keep it from going dormant. Deep (1” per week) and infrequent is preferred over frequent shallow waterings.
- Scout for grubs. Peel back sod. More than 8 grubs per square foot can cause wilt or death of turf.
- Establish or renovate turf by seed (late summer – early fall, depending on weather conditions). Prepare soil properly and get good seed to soil contact.
Trees & Shrub Care
- Water newly planted trees and shrubs. Soak each plant well with the hose; sprinklers do not provide adequate water to encourage deep root growth.
- Scout for fall webworm nest building near ends of branches.
- Review health of trees and consider fall root feeding if necessary.
Tip! Don’t let weeds go to seed. “A year of seeding equals 7 years weeding.”
If keeping up with your landscaping chores feels overwhelming, reach out to learn more about our maintenance programs. (262) 252-4260
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