August 2026 Tips

 

I know August can be hot hot hot, but don’t forsake gardening this month. Perennials, shrubs, and trees can be planted now if you follow a few rules:

 

• Buy plants that have been subjected to the sun, if that is where you are planting them. Garden Center “box stores” generally have overhangs or roofs. Theses plants are not used to direct sunlight. You’ll know an unhappy plant when you see one. They also sell Plants that are not climatized or they do not grow here. Use your “Sunset Garden Bible” book.

• Dig a hole twice as wide as the root ball, and half-again as deep. Muddy the hole as much as possible. Only plant your plant as deep as it is in the pot – no deeper. Plant trees no deeper than 1” above the top root.

• Be consistent with your watering – maybe twice a week depending on your soil, Deep-water, don’t just sprinkle.  Give your evergreens a shower with a garden hose – that helps with retaining moisture in the needles on newly-planted evergreens.

• Don’t over-amend your planting hole. Use just 1/3 amendment to 2/3 native soil. Plants need to get used to your garden soil. Over-amending causes roots to circle the hole – really bad, especially for trees.

• As a former landscaper, we worked and planted until the snow flies, or until the ground was frozen……   HOPE TO SEE YOU @ PLANTSCAPES IN AUGUST !!

 

******* Please note:  Be stringent about sunscreen even if you are gardening in the morning or late afternoon. I want all of our Klamath Basin gardeners healthy!

 
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