Gardening Checklist for August - September

Well, how did you do with the list last month? If you got all the way through it, congratulations. You won’t have nearly as much to do this month. It’s just as well. Climatologically, the highest maximum daily temperatures occur during the first couple of weeks in August. We all know it is going to be uncomfortably warm and humid. Maybe we will be lucky and have a few rain showers to soak the yard and cool things off a bit. If you have to be out in the heat, drink plenty of water, wear a broad brimmed hat, use sunscreen to protect your skin from sunburn and take frequent rest breaks. Here are a few things that you could be doing, preferably during the relative cool of the morning: 

• In spite of high water bills, remember that water is your key to successful gardening. Soak thoroughly and deeply, when possible. Be aware of your watering restrictions, though. 
• If you have a St. Augustine lawn, be on the lookout for chinch bugs and apply control, the sooner the better. 
• If your oak trees need pruning, now should be one of the best times to do it. Due to the extreme drought, you may be better off waiting until January. The insects that transfer the oak wilt fungus are not very active during the heat of summer. However, it is still recommended that you paint each pruning cut with sealer immediately after cutting. 
• It’s time to get serious about your fall vegetable garden. You should have your tomato and pepper plants in the ground (with some afternoon sun protection), however this year you might keep them in pots until it cools a bit. Okra and winter squash should be planted by mid-August and green beans, summer squash and cucumbers by the end of the month. Set out broccoli, cabbage and cauliflower plants before Labor Day. Swiss Chard is a great green and can be planted anytime between now and early October. If you plant potatoes, they should be in the ground by the first of September. Unless the weather turns unusually cool and damp, it would be best to wait until at least mid-September to plant lettuce. 
• Remember that caladiums are leaves, and leaves love nitrogen. If you still have caladiums give them a shot of a high nitrogen fertilizer (lawn food is good) and water it in well. 
• By mid-September you should start to prepare beds for planting fall annuals and spring bulbs. 

That’s it. Not too bad. Just remember to take it easy and try to avoid working outside in the sun during the heat of the day.