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August is the month that I like to do my gardening from the comfort of a lawn chair, preferably with a cold glass of something close at hand. Apparently referring to early July and August as the dog days comes from the ancient Romans. At that time Sirius or the Dog Star is in conjunction with the sun and rises and sets with it. They apparently felt this added to the heat. As far as I'm concerned whatever the reason, it's a good time to take life easy. The garden is as good as it's going to get and I can sit back and plan what needs to be changed later…much later, say September.
This is when I decide that I'm not going to over plant the flower beds next year. It always amazes me how those small plants I put in the garden in May or June have gotten so large and they are nearly always bigger than the area I have for them. This is when I vow that next year I will not over plant; and I get to plan where I will transplant existing perennials to a hopefully more suitable spot. Well someone has to do the tricky stuff.
The other tricky part is dealing with and identifying the bugs eating my plants. Here are a few hints. Aphids are easy to identify, wash them off with a hose if possible. Lady bugs don't stay in the garden to eat pests if you use pesticides, so if you can, avoid them. If not Trounce is safe and effective. Whitefly and leafhoppers can be treated the same way, and a lure to trap them can be made with yellow paper coated with a sticky substance. [Tanglefoot works well] This can be purchase in a tube at garden centers.
Sometimes the hardest part is identifying the bugs. Earwigs have been a real problem in some gardens, and since they play least in sight during the hot part of the day you might not realize how many you have and they can really eat a plant bare. To identify and trap them, roll up a slightly damp newspaper and place it underneath the plants being eaten. Check inside during the hot part of the day when they are napping in the shade. If you have earwigs inside you can dispose of them by tying the paper up in a plastic bag or whatever method you choose. This can be done repeatedly until you have the problem under control, or use a pesticide if you feel it's necessary.
Caterpillars do a similar type of damage, causing large holes in the leaves of plants. Using a flashlight to check the plants in the evening will sometimes identify the pests. Sometimes just having a close look at dusk or first thing in the morning will catch the culprit. It's amazing how much damage a couple of caterpillars can do. BTK will deal with a large infestation. If you just have a few you can pick them off and deal with them. Slugs can also be the problem. They often leave a shiny trail to help identify them, but if you are unsure, you can put a few heavy pieces of cardboard on the ground under the plants and lift them during the day to see if you have any of the culprits hiding there. Seems most insects know that the hot part of the day is the time to relax or nap. Works for me. Hope this helps you deal with the pests.
I'll leave you to deal with the heat in your own way. Cheers!
Lindi Karmason for Lake Country Greenhouses 2005-08 |
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