gardenplanner
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Reset irrigation timers monthly to ensure you’re delivering the right amount of water at the right time of day. Install an automatic rain shutoff to eliminate unnecessary irrigation. Early-morning and early-evening watering is best and remember that Georgia state
water rules apply. Find these rules at UrbanAgCouncil.com. Many plants wilt under the intense heat of high noon—even when soil is moist. Under the hot sun, plants lose water through their leaves more quickly than they can absorb it through their roots, which is why they wilt. Check plants in early evening. Leaves should be back to normal. If they’re still wilted, water
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plants deeply.
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10 tips
for creating and maintaining a beautiful garden in
august
Questions about your landscape or hiring a professional landscaper? Send e-mails to info@urbanagcouncil.com.
Mary Kay Woodworth is executive director of the Georgia Urban Agriculture Council (UAC). She previously ran Practically Gardening, a landscape consulting firm, and was Master Gardener coordinator for the DeKalb County Cooperative Extension Service. Mary Kay is a frequent speaker at area schools, garden clubs, civic organizations and trade shows.
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ATLANTA HOME IMPROVEMENT AUGUST 2014
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By this point in the summer, some annuals may have become spindly or leggy. It is a good time to pinch or trim them back by as much as ½ their current height. They will soon begin to leaf out, look thicker and begin to bloom again.
Fall annual flowers are on display in nurseries and garden centers, but it’s best to wait until cooler temperatures arrive to redo your containers and garden beds.
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Late August, prune your rose bushes back by a third to force stronger growth for your blossoms in the fall.
August is a peak season for aphids, which eat both plants and succulents. Remove any plants that look to be infected and always keep your eye out for them.
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Mow in the evening and put less stress on your lawn and you, as the grass is drier and the temperature is a bit cooler.
Be on the lookout for fire ant mounds. Apply fire ant killer as soon as you spot the hill to eliminate them this winter. If you are reseeding or sodding fescue in September,
late August is the time to apply Glyphosate to your existing lawn. Take a soil test to your UGA Cooperative Extension service and learn what nutrients you can add before
reseeding or sodding. Prevent the Kudzu vine from taking over your landscape by using a potent weed killer. Because Kudzu feeds on leaves, you can also mow down all of the foliage to help prevent its growth.
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7/7/14 1:37 PM