Emma Miller
August is considered the most active month for gardeners – it is during this period you need to harvest crops, but also not to forget about watering and pruning plants, as well as planting new crops.
What to harvest in August and how to take care of the plants
In order for you to have time to do all the necessary things in the garden and in time to start the process of preparing for winter, we have compiled a detailed gardening checklist for the last month of summer. Check it so you won’t forget anything.
Grafting and pruning trees
All of the trees you grafted in June and July need care. The plants need to be monitored to see if new grafts and eyelets are taking root. Those that don’t live up to expectations are best removed in time so that the tree doesn’t waste energy on them. About how to graft apple trees in summer, we have already told you, but we remind you that in August you need to do the same procedure with pear and mountain ash.
After you harvest, make sure that the tree is free of pests. Then you need to cut out the vertical shoots, which thicken the crown and do not allow the fruit to ripen well. Some of the shoots can be bent horizontally and tied to stronger branches – this will have a positive effect on future fruiting.
Care of grapes
If you have early varieties of grapes growing in your garden, they can be harvested without tearing off the bunches, but by cutting them with scissors or pruning shears. Medium and late varieties should be fertilized with phosphorus-potassium fertilizers, and the tops of the vines should be shortened by 20 cm. Such a procedure will help you accelerate the process of grape ripening and improve its quality. Additionally, experienced gardeners recommend removing excess leaves so that the plant gets more light.
Pruning raspberries and planting seedlings
It is in August that it is necessary to deal with the removal of all excess shoots and fruit-bearing stems. At the end of the month, it is appropriate to plant new seedlings – at this time they will especially well take root. The main requirement when growing raspberries – is good lighting and fertile soil. At the same time, remember that it is better not to plant raspberries next to currants or cherries – the plants will compete for nutrients.
Care for currants and gooseberries
Gooseberries and currants in August need your care – you must harvest, remove diseased shoots, loosen the soil, and get rid of weeds. It is also important to inspect plants for pests and, if necessary, begin to combat them.
At the same time, you need to monitor the watering of trees and shrubs, observing the technology:
- red currants – 1-2 buckets per bush;
- black currant – 3-4 buckets;
- gooseberry – 4-6 buckets;
- raspberries – 5-6 buckets per 1 sq.m.
Trees should be watered regularly, only if the weather outside is hot. With moderate temperature and humidity levels, watering can be gradually reduced, but do not deprive the plant of moisture at all.
Preparing pits for planting in autumn
August is a good time to start thinking about what you will be planting in the fall. In order for this to be possible at all, start preparing the pits. Dig a hole, put drainage in the bottom, apply compost or humus, and then fertilize the soil with minerals. Layer the nutrient mix and soil, drive in a tree garter stake and be ready to plant new crops in the fall.
IMPORTANT: the size of the pit must exactly match the size of the seedlings, otherwise the plant will feel uncomfortable and unlikely to start developing.
Sowing early maturing vegetables and greens
Given that you will harvest many crops, the beds will be empty. This means they can be occupied by other plants – dill, parsley, lettuce, radishes, or cold-resistant varieties of beets. If you have a greenhouse, you can plant radishes, onions, peas, broccoli, early varieties of cucumbers, and low-growing tomatoes.
Pest and Disease Control
In August, tomatoes, potatoes, peppers, and eggplants suffer from phytophthora, so it is important to monitor the condition of plants and treat them in time against various infections and fungi.
Passing and feeding vegetables
Another important thing to do in August is to remove side shoots and inflorescences on tomatoes, which will no longer have time to please you with the harvest.
It will not be superfluous and feed the plants with bird droppings to accelerate the ripening of existing fruits. Its recipe is simple:
- 0.5 kg of manure;
- 10 liters of water;
- food film.
You need to pour the manure with water, cover it with cling film and insist on 3-5 days. The resulting infusion dilutes with water in a ratio of 1:20 and pours under each plant 1 liter of fertilizer.
Fertilize cucumbers in August also will not be superfluous – it is best to use yeast, ash, or breadcrumbs for this purpose. We told you how to fertilize cucumbers for a good harvest and gave the most effective recipes. Also, do not forget to remove damaged leaves so that your plants do not fall victim to pests or dangerous infections.
