August is here and the hot weather continues to put stress on your Charlotte garden this month. It should come as no surprise that adequate hydration is a key item on your gardening to do list for this month. But, the nights are going to start being cooler again as August progresses so don’t forget to plan for your fall garden and start planting. Finally, don’t forget to pour yourself a glass of sweet tea and enjoy the Carolina summer!
Continue to water your vegetable plants if there is no rain. Your plants prefer watering deeply every few days over giving them small amounts of water every day.
Mulching goes a long way and now is the time to spread more mulch on beds that have only a thin layer left. A healthy layer of mulch truly helps retain moisture and eases the strain this heat is putting on your plants. Annuals and perennials enjoy a 1-2in cover of mulch, while trees do well with 2-4in. When you mulch around trees and shrubs but don’t cover their stems so their bark can breathe.
With so many mulch materials to choose from, you can easily find a solution that matches your landscaping. Come in to Blackhawk Hardware and pick up hardwood, pine or cypress mulch today. Don’t you love that scent of fresh mulch? I sure do and always enjoy mulching day.
Use leftover seeds to sow fast growing annuals like zinnias and marigolds now for a final show of color.
If you haven’t done so already plan your cool season vegetable garden and start seeds indoor so they are mature enough to be transplanted outside when the temperatures cool down.
Later this month, start sowing beets, kale, broccoli and other fall vegetables. Now is also the time to plant garlic cloves for a harvest early next summer.
