August is an inflection point in the garden.
you could begin to finally enjoy the best spoils of summer: tomatoes, peppers, and corn.
Walking around the garden, you could start to see the long road to fall cleanup ahead of you.
It’s time to start the cleanup.
The brown are second year and should be cut to the ground.
As soon as blackberries and boysenberries are done for the season, I’ll do the same.
Once your blueberries are done fruiting, it’s time to step back and examine the bush.
You want to ensure none of the branches cross or grow inward, so choose judiciously.
Blueberries want special acidic fertilizer that your garden store will stock just for bluebs and azaleas.
The goal is an open canopy.
Other cuts can wait for winter when the plant is really dormant.
Your coneflower and blanketflower will flourish with some tough love deadheading as well.
Cabbage moths are a different story, however.
Once I have, I place the net on the ground and stomp them.
Be bold in your pursuit.
When tomatoes show signs of ripening, pull them.
Cucumbers become bitter when left too long.
No one wants your seven-pound zucchini.
Brassicas galore, more lettuce, more radishes, more beets, and onions everywhere.
Be liberal with Sluggo if you live someplace with slugs or snails.
Get some fall peas into the ground.
Most importantly, check your irrigation once a week to ensure that there are no leaks or burst lines.
These notes are essential for seeing improvement year to year.
