August is a crucial month for Central Florida gardeners, marking the transition from summer to the start of a new, warm season garden. Here's a comprehensive guide to ensure your garden thrives in the upcoming months, with a focus on practical tasks and expert insights.
Moon Phases and Planting Times
The Almanac provides a detailed moon phase calendar, which is essential for timing your gardening activities. For instance, the last quarter moon on August 5th is ideal for controlling weeds and pests, while the new moon on August 12th is perfect for planting above-ground crops like cantaloupe and cucumber. The first quarter moon on August 19th is best for pruning trees and shrubs, and the full moon on August 28th is an excellent time for planting below-ground crops such as carrots and radishes.
Vegetable and Fruit Care
August is the perfect month to start a new garden, with warm-season crops like melons and pumpkins requiring early planting. If you missed the boat, don't worry; tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants can still be started from seed. Ensure you fertilize new seedlings every other week with a half-strength solution, and choose a sunny spot with easy access to water. For nematode-infested sites, create large holes and fill them with fresh, pest-free soil.
Lawn Care
Lawn care is essential in the summer months. Check for common issues like take-all root rot, which can be treated with liquid fertilizer. Chinch bugs may cause expanding yellow spots in St. Augustine grass, so treat accordingly. Caterpillars can be controlled naturally at garden centers. Lawns may also begin to look yellow-green, and iron or minor nutrients can be applied where permitted. Avoid feeding lawns during the summer in some areas, and consider using sod, plugs, or seeds to fill bare spots.
Landscape Care
Summer is an ideal time to add new plants to your landscape, taking advantage of the rains for watering. Select plants that grow to the proper height to minimize pruning. Ensure root balls are moist at planting and create berms to catch water. Summer rains can help new plantings, but check daily to maintain moisture. Tough bedding plants like bush daisies and coleus thrive in the heat. Attract pollinators with butterfly weed and salvias, and trim hydrangeas and poinsettias as needed.
Foliage and Houseplant Care
Mealy bugs and scale insects can cause plant decline, so control them with insecticidal soaps. Trim foliage plants to encourage new growth, and transplant root-bound plants. Make cuttings of your favorite varieties and feed houseplants monthly. Wash off dust and pests with soapy water, and move light-starved plants outdoors to a shady location. Add new plants to your indoor collection and move orchids and bromeliads outdoors when they finish flowering.
Expert Insights
Tom MacCubbin, an urban horticulturist emeritus with the University of Florida Cooperative Extension Service, emphasizes the importance of soil health and proper drainage. He recommends enriching soils with garden soils, organic matter, and composted manure, and using a soil solarization treatment if gardens are not planted until fall. MacCubbin also highlights the need for regular grooming and feeding of herbs, shrubs, and container gardens, as well as the importance of training vines to arbors and trellises to prevent damage to trees and shrubs.
In conclusion, August is a busy month for Central Florida gardeners, with a wide range of tasks to ensure a thriving garden. By following the Almanac's guidance and expert insights, you can create a beautiful and productive outdoor space that will flourish throughout the season.
