Rough looking canna leaves mingle with bloomed out Golden Glow--they're waiting for the city to carry them away.
About now, you might be pretty burned out on your garden–And that’s ok. August is the worst month to live in South and a horrible time to spend much time outside.
There are only 3 or 4 chores I make myself do in this hotest and most humid month–
I’ll go ahead and confess that sometimes I’m pretty slack about them all.
Keep crops picked--these cherry tomatoes are heading for the roasting pan
- I try to keep up with watering. Pots are most critical and dry out fastest. I use my rain barrrels for those. I do use my soaker hoses and drip systems in the beds, but if it’s been really hot and dry my sprinkler comes out, especially if I’m headed out of town.
- I pick ripe fruits and vegetables. It’s waste not to and tomato sandwiches are cool and refreshing– actually one of the perks of this month. Also August is the time to make and freeze lots of pesto. More on that in a later post.
- In August, I dead head plants and flowers, removing spent blooms to keep them blooming and cutting foliage back hard if it looks raty. I carry these cuttings to street for the town’s hot compost pile. Too many leaf fungal things around this month. Don’t want their spores in my compost.
- I stake plants that fall over or get knocked down by storms.
I'm not a big sprinkler fan--but in August, I'll make an exception
My favorite actitivity in August is resting my back in front of the DVR, watching Dr. Zivago and digging all the snow scenes…or traveling to cool, windy places like Ireland or Nova Scotia while my poor garden roasts or gets pelted by big storms back home.
No guilt though–well not too much. We should all rest up for Fall when gardens and gardeners come alive again.
Fall will be busy–It’s the best time for planting in North Carolina, the best time for bed building, path building and other big projects.
So save your strength and your budget–there’s another great gardening season ahead. Fall is our second spring in the South…and in my mind, the best one. Fall is my favorite season to be outside.
3 comments
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August 25, 2010 at 1:34 pm
Kristen
Chris I hate my garden right now! I returned to it after neglecting it for much of August and it isn’t happy. I’ve considered ripping it all out and replacing with ivy!
Come to my house and inspire me and my orphan garden!
August 25, 2010 at 6:53 pm
christineramsey
I’ve always said I was more of a fall and winter gardener than a spring and summer gardener. In spring–I do fine, but once the heat comes on full blast, I barely get by. That’s why I grow so many plants that bloom between October and April. It’s a much better time to be outside in the South.
So go ahead and hate your garden now. You are not alone. Just get ready to love it again in the fall.
Meantime, I’ll be glad to come over and inspire you. I do most of my planting and start all of my big projects in the fall. So use this time to rest up. You’ll be out there digging before long, too.
August 25, 2010 at 8:28 pm
Melissa Blaisdell
Thanks for the relief. While I haven’t tended well during the hot months and there is a wedding expedition in store for me come cooler temps. I am impressed how robust and resilient my tropicals are doing. It is like that are saying “bring it” to the heat and humidity and lovin’ every minute.
Something to think about Kristen..grow more tropicals….
m