8/15/2020

Lawn:
At this time you should inspect your spreader and make sure it is in good working order so that you are prepared to apply grass seed and fertilizer in the next few weeks. If you do not have a spreader or need a new spreader. Now is the time to reserve rental equipment like dethatchers and core aerators for your fall renovation program. Buy your Turf Trust and Water saver seed now so that it will be on hand when the weather breaks in a few weeks. You don’t want to be shopping when you should be renovating. Fall is the best time for lawn renovations. Grass that is sown in the fall will give the grass time to grow roots all fall and spring which will allow the grass to be able to better deal with next years hot summer.
Be sure to buy the lawn products and reserve the equipment now for later, when it is time to reseed so that you will not be without the materials that you need.
If you are not going to over seed, then now would be the time to apply Dimension. The application of Dimension will prevent Poa Annua (annual blue grass) from taking over the lawn this winter. If you have thin areas in your lawn, then use Turf Trust to help make your existing lawn to thicken up. Gallery can be applied now to prevent winter and spring weeds like chickweed and henbit.
Japanese Beetle grubs are hatching or have hatched in the soil now. Control them with the Bayer Dylox now.
Spray lawn weeds and crabgrass now if you are following the 60/40 lawn program.
Kill all vegetation now if you are following the disaster lawn program.

Southern Lawns:

Zoysia, Bermuda, and St Augustine lawns are best renovated in late spring early summer.

Flowers & Plants:
It is time to remove hydrangea spent flowers. Do this by removing the spent flowers on re-blooming Hydrangeas, plus two leaves and leave the rest of the stem. Do not prune French Hydrangeas, only remove the spent flowers. Most Hydrangeas where damaged this winter from the cold and did not bloom well. Now is the best time to feed them again with Garden Trust to help them fully recover.
Apply Bonide Systemic House plant insect control to any potted plants that you plan on bringing indoors this fall.
Plant ornamental cabbage and kale seed now. Perennials have finished blooming. Cut them back and remove all spent flowers.

German irisʼ can be divided and replanted in newly fertilized beds now. Iris borers can be manually removed, if present, when tubers are divided.
Fall vegetables can be planted now. In the fall vegetable garden there are less insects
to deal with.
Tomatoes remove any tomatoes that have a black spot and rot, this is known as blossom end rot on tomatoes. Treat with Bonide stop rot and next season when planting tomatoes make sure to use Bonide hydrated lime mixed into the soil.
Peonies and tall Phlox that have whitish spots are infected with mildew apply Monterey Garden Phos three times ten days apart and also feed them with Garden Trust in the future.
Remember to always follow the label instructions on the products.
Fruiting Plants:
Feed your hardy Brown Turkey fruiting figs bi-weekly with Fish and seaweed fertilizer  and keep them well watered. The more they grow in August the more figs you will be able to harvest.

Pets:
To help prevent fleas and tick on your pets for the rest of the season, spray areas where the pets congregate with Summit Mosquito and gnat barrier spray or Bonide Eight.  The Summit Mosquito and Gnat Barrier spray also kills Mosquitos! Works best if you spray in the evening.
 
    .    Mosquitos:
To be mosquito free over the Labor day weekend. Apply Summit mosquito and gnat 
barrier spray in the evening or before a party. 
Use the Summit mosquito dunks in ponds, animal troughs, bird baths, old tiers, rain barrels, or anywhere that you have standing water. This will keep the mosquito population down. 

    .    • To protect yourself your family and pets from mosquitos, which may be carrying Zika or West Nile Virus, use Summit Mosquito and Gnat Barrier Spray. Make this product’s application in the evening. This product should decrease the number of mosquitos present for up to four weeks.