Re-Invigor Your August Garden

'Knockout Pink' rebloom in early September

When you reach the month of August, your garden is either flourishing or you're thinking "better luck next year" or on the phone to a paving company. 
Here are some quick-step maintenance suggestions:
·         Keep container plants watered – remember that other than occasional August rains, you are their only resource for moisture.
·         Fertilize all container plants and perennials in your garden.  Frequent watering may be a must unless summer rainfall has been plentiful.
·         Add a Water Soluble Fertilizer products as Miracle Gro™, Jack's™, or Espoma™ Slow Release.
·         Prune back hybrid tea and shrub roses to spur plentiful re-blooms in September and October.
·         Continue to pull weeds. Don't allow them get ahead and go to seed.
·         Deadhead (prune back) annuals and perennials so they'll look better and to stimulate new blooms. Your lawn mower, set at 5-inch cutting height, makes the work faster and simpler.
·         Prune/remove dead limbs and branches on shrubs and smaller trees.
·         Scout these late summer pests - aphids, white flies, spider mites on all landscape plants. A number of safe organic pesticides or a coarse spray of water from a garden hose may take care of most pests.
·         If summer annuals have peaked and dying off from diseases or insect pests, head to your local garden center for fall blooming mums, asters, toad lilies, anemones, et.al.
·         Plant fresh containers or a garden bed of petunias, calibrachoas, marigolds, and/or globe amaranths (Gomphrena) that should bloom non-stop to first hard frost.

Calibrachoa in container

Fall Blooming Perennials

Photo: Fall anemone 'Honorine Jobert'

The end of summer does not mean that other perennials aren't beginning their blooming season. Three fall flowering perennials- reblooming daylilies, remontant iris, and fall anemones- thrive here in the Southern Appalachian (USDA zones 6 and 7).

Early fall is a great time to again enjoy a lovely bed of re-blooming daylilies (Hemerocallus spp.). 'Stella D'Oro' (golden yellow), the most popular variety for the past quarter of the century, was recently dethroned by 'Happy Returns' (light yellow). 'Pardon Me' (red) is another re-blooming favorite. Inter-planting daffodils, tulips or hyacinths among the daylily clumps extends your floral calendar another month or two.

Remontant iris (Iris spp.) re-bloom a second time from August through November. The trick to re-blooming daylilies and irises is to provide some relief from summer drought stress. Weekly deep watering is certain guarantee of repeat fall bloom.

Fall anemones (Anemone x hybrida) are available in many colorful varieties, starting with an old favorite and garden performer 'Honorine Jobert' (2-3 " single white blooms), 'Queen Charlotte' (3" semi-double pink), 'September Charm' (3" single rose-pink), and 'Whirlwind' (4" semi-double white).

Do not grow fall anemones in direct full day sun. Plants prefer a partial sun to partial shady spot. Caution: plant in spring thru mid-summer to permit adequate time to establish their roots. Anemones perennialize easily when planted in richly composted, well-drained garden soil.