Keep that water coming...
Things to do around the garden in August
DAVID MINK GateHouse Plus

While spring is traditionally the time of year when gardeners get their knees and hands dirty, late summer is an important period as well. It is during this crucial time that spring flowers need to be maintained, weeds need to be cultivated and seeds need to be sown for next year's early bloomers.

Your first priority in this month is to keep the water running. Hot, dry temperatures can quickly cut down even the heartiest plants, so check them daily to make sure the roots are being properly fed. Stick your finger

about three to four inches into the soil and check for moisture. If there isn't, get out the hose. Apply a good soaking to the soil, as a light mist can easily be evaporated by the intense heat, even after it has entered the soil. Make sure to water in the morning so the plants have a chance to soak up the water before the sun dries out the soil.

Now is also a good time to cultivate weeds again. Pulling up as many as possible now will reduce the number of weeds you have to contend with after winter is over.

Allowing many of these weeds to go to seed, however, could mean a lot more where that came from next time around. If you haven't considered it, try solarizing your soil. Turn over the soil between your rows and cover it with clear, plastic tarps. Leave the tarps on throughout the month. The tarp helps trap in the heat, which in turn will kill the weeds and weed seedlings that you turned up when you tilled the soil.

August is early-bloomerplanting month, so get to planting. Anything you plant now is going to bloom in May, which means your garden will be well on its way toward beauty by the time most gardeners are first turning the soil for the spring plant. Early bloomers include pansies, snapdragons, forget-me-nots and English daisies.

Other good tips for gardening the August include:

• Clean up fallen leaves to remove any safe havens for insects and pests. Also remove old plants that are no longer producing, as well as fallen fruit.

• Avoid adding weed seeds to the compost pile. These can germinate next year when the compost is used in the new garden.

• Keep an eye on hanging baskets, as they require more w ater than most.