August 2003

Ornamental

After mid-August until mid-September reseed or renovate bare areas in the lawn. Sodding can be done as long as ground is not frozen.

Make a last fertilization of hybrid tea roses in early August. Fertilizing any later in the month will promote new growth that will not have time to harden off before winter. The new growth would also use sugars and starches the plant needs to get through the winter.

Watch for blackspot on roses. With the recent frequent rains, blackspot has been very prevalent. Circular black spots appear on the leaves starting from the bottom of the plant and moving upward. Splashing from rain or watering will spread the disease. Spray weekly with a fungicide. The fungus causing blackspot overwinters on fallen leaves, so raking and removing the leaves in the fall will provide some control.

Watch for brown areas in the lawn. This could be grub damage. Grubs eat the roots of the grass and browned areas can be pulled up like a rug.

Collect flowers for drying. Choose flowers that are just starting to open. As the flower dries it will continue to open. Gather flowers in the morning.

Watch for tree roots of mature trees to come to the surface especially roots of silver maples, poplars and willow. Most tree roots are 4-8 inches below ground. As the tree grows these roots naturally enlarge and make their way to the surface. Pruning the roots may damage the tree. Plant a groundcover to cover the roots to avoid mowing the area.

Cut back straggly annuals. This may be hard to do, but it will help to promote healthy new growth.

Watch for rust on lawns. Look for a yellowish-orange powder on grass blades. With our wet summer, rust is more likely to occur. In the fall as the rate of grass growth increases with cooler temperatures, the rust will often fade away. Fungicides are usually not necessary.

Take cuttings of coleus, impatiens, wax begonias, rosemary, thyme and oregano to start indoors for a winter window garden.

Have you heard about the Emerald Ash Borer? This very aggressive insect pest has recently been found in ash trees in southeastern Michigan. The adult beetle is dark metallic green in color and about 1/2 inch long and 1/16 inch wide. The borer can kill a large ash tree in 2-4 years. The adults emerge in May & June and lay eggs on the bark of branches and trunks. One beetle can lay 75 eggs. Eggs hatch and larvae tunnel under the bark and feed in the cambium. This feeding disrupts the ability of the tree to move water and nutrients through it, eventually killing the tree.

Edible

After mid-August sow greens like kale, lettuce, mustard and turnips.

Harvest onions when the tops have yellowed and fallen over naturally. Knocking over the tops early will result in smaller bulbs. Pull bulbs in the A.M. and let them dry until afternoon. Place on screens or hang in small bunches for 2-3 weeks to complete the curing process. Keep the dry scales on the bulbs. This will allow them to keep longer. After drying cut the tops back to 1-2 inches long and place bulbs in cool storage area with good air circulation.

Pick your tomatoes every day or two during hot spells (air temperature of 90 degrees F or more). With high temperatures the softening process is accelerated and color development is slowed, reducing quality. Harvest the tomatoes when color has started to show and ripen indoors.

Visit a U-Pick fruit or vegetable farm in the Chicagoland area. For a list of farms, call 773-233-0476 or check out the web site Illinois Fresh.