August Gardening To Do List

[joyce]

Zone 1
Sow seeds of wildflowers and fall veggies
Aerate, dethatch and fertilize the lawn
As first frosts threaten, pick mature green tomatoes to ripen in a dark, cool place indoors
Purchase containerized trees and shrubs to plant now
Pick herbs to dry for winter soups, stews and baking
Begin to dig up summer bulbs to store indoors
Order spring bulbs to force indoors
Build up weather resistance of trees and shrubs with deep waterings throughout the fall
Start moving tender plants indoors to acclimatize them or take cuttings
Spread newly made compost around trees, shrubs and perennials; winter weather will work it into the soil

Zone 2

Plant hardy Oriental and Asiatic lilies
Sow seeds of wildflowers, spring-blooming annuals and fall veggies
Aerate, dethatch and fertilize the lawn
Start moving tender plants indoors to acclimatize them or take cuttings
Pick herbs to dry for winter soups, stews and baking
As first frosts threaten, pick mature green tomatoes to ripen in a dark, cool place indoors
Purchase containerized trees and shrubs to plant now
Plan ahead for an extended harvest by building or buying a cold frame
Begin to dig up summer bulbs to store indoors
Order spring bulbs to force indoors

Zone 3
Sow seeds of wildflowers, spring-blooming annuals and fall veggies
Lift, divide and transplant perennials
Plant hardy Oriental and Asiatic lilies
Aerate, dethatch and fertilize the lawn
Start moving houseplants and other tender plants indoors to acclimatize
Pick herbs to dry for winter soups, stews and baking
Order trees and shrubs now for fall planting
Plan ahead for an extended harvest by building or buying a cold frame
Blanch tomatoes for freezing and canning by boiling them for just a few minutes and slipping off the skins
Order spring bulbs to force indoors
Zone 4

Lift, divide and transplant perennials
Order peonies for fall planting
Divide and transplant bearded iris
Start moving houseplants and other tender plants indoors to acclimatize
Enjoy a case of the late summer "blues" with a palette of aconitum, caryopteris, fall asters and reblooming iris in your planting schemes
Blanch tomatoes for freezing and canning by boiling them for just a few minutes and slipping off the skins
Plant fall-blooming crocus and colchicum for late-season flowering
Prepare beds for planting bulbs and divide any existing bulbs that might be overcrowded
Build up weather resistance of trees and shrubs with deep waterings now throughout the fall
Look forward to something different next spring: try alliums in your bulb garden

Zone 5

Sow seeds of fall vegetables
Order peonies for fall planting
Divide and transplant bearded iris
Plan perennial beds for fall and winter color with ornamental grasses, fall-blooming bulbs and hardy heaths and heathers
Harvest vegetables continuously to stretch their season
Sprinkle compost starter to speed up composting for fall soil building
Prune summer-blooming shrubs (hydrangea, clethra, caryopteris) after flowers finish
Plant garlic now for spring harvests
Look forward to something different next spring: try alliums in your bulb garden
Enjoy a case of the late summer "blues" with a palette of hardy ageratum, caryopteris, fall asters and reblooming iris in your planting schemes


Zone 6

Sow seeds of fall veggies and annuals
Plan perennial beds for fall and winter color with ornamental grasses, fall-blooming bulbs and hardy heaths and heathers
Divide and transplant bearded iris
Harvest vegetables continuously to stretch their season
Sprinkle compost starter to speed up composting for fall soil building
Prune summer-blooming shrubs (hydrangea, clethra, caryopteris) after flowers finish
Plant garlic now for spring harvests
Look forward to something different next spring: try alliums in your bulb garden
Sow seeds of cool-weather herbs (chives, parsley)
Enjoy a case of the late summer "blues" with a palette of hardy ageratum, caryopteris, fall asters and reblooming iris in your planting schemes

Zone 7

Harvest vegetables continuously to stretch their season
Sprinkle compost starter to speed up composting for fall soil building
Prune summer-blooming shrubs (hydrangea, clethra, caryopteris) after flowers finish
Plant garlic now for spring harvests
Dig gently to harvest potatoes a few plants at a time
Look forward to something different next spring: try alliums in your bulb garden
Sow seeds of cool-weather herbs (chives, parsley, garlic chives, cilantro and dill)
Plan perennial beds for fall and winter color with ornamental grasses, fall-blooming bulbs and hardy heaths and heathers
Enjoy fall fragrance by planting autumn clematis (Clematis paniculata), flowering tobacco and annual stock
Keep cool during summer's dog days with a shade garden embroidered with hostas and hardy ferns
Color up your bulb garden with fall bloomers (lycoris, fall crocus, colchicum)


Zone 8

Color up your bulb garden with fall bloomers (lycoris, fall crocus, colchicum)
Prepare rose beds for fall planting
Pick vegetables early in the day while they're crisp
Plant out vegetable seedlings and sow seed for fall harvests
Leach out alkaline buildup in the soil with deep waterings and applications of acid plant food
Dig gently to harvest potatoes, a few plants at a time
Sow seeds of cool-weather herbs (chives, parsley, garlic chives, cilantro and dill)
Enjoy fall fragrance by planting autumn clematis (Clematis paniculata), flowering tobacco and annual stock
Order and refrigerate bulbs that require a winter chill (tulips, crocus, hyacinths)
Keep cool during summer's dog days with a shade garden embroidered with hostas and hardy ferns



Zone 9

Sow seeds of cool-weather herbs (chives, parsley, garlic chives, cilantro and dill)
Prepare rose beds for fall planting of containerized roses
Order sweet pea seedlings now for winter bouquets
Pick vegetables early in the day while they're crisp
Plant out vegetable seedlings and sow seed for fall harvests
Leach out alkaline buildup in the soil with deep waterings and applications of acid plant food
Enjoy fall fragrance by planting autumn clematis (Clematis paniculata), flowering tobacco and annual stock
Order and refrigerate bulbs that require a winter chill (tulips, crocus, hyacinths)
Spray plants with the hose to knock off late-summer pests such as spider mite and whitefly
Stock up on seed for winter annuals and new perennials



Zone 10

Prepare rose beds for fall planting of containerized roses
Order sweet pea seedlings now for winter bouquets
Plant out vegetable seedlings and sow seed for fall harvests
Leach out alkaline buildup in the soil with deep waterings and applications of acid plant food
Spray plants with the hose to knock off late-summer pests such as spider mite and whitefly
Stock up on seed for winter annuals and new perennials
Trim and fertilize hanging basket plants to give them a second lease on life
Order and refrigerate bulbs that require a winter chill (tulips, crocus, hyacinths)
Zone 11

Prepare rose beds for fall planting of containerized roses
Order sweet pea seedlings for winter bouquets
Plant out vegetable seedlings and sow seed for fall harvests
Purchase and refrigerate bulbs that require a winter chill (tulips, crocus, hyacinths)
Leach out alkaline buildup in the soil with deep waterings and applications of acid plant food
Spray plants with the hose to knock off late-summer pests such as spider mite and whitefly
Sow seeds of cool-weather herbs (chives, parsley, garlic chives, cilantro and dill)
Prevent chlorosis in citrus trees with three feedings a year
Trim and fertilize hanging basket plants to give them a second lease on life

[califgirl]

Is that your list Joyce ???because if so, you have you work cut out.

[joyce]

Naw, my list is longer.

[califgirl]

Really Joyce, I can't even imagine.

[joyce]

Just kidding with ya.

Those are the different zones that the US is placed in. It's just sorta a reference for people. In my neck of the woods I live in Zone 7.

I'm thinking you probably live in Zone 6 or 7.

[califgirl]

I thought the zone numbers meant different parts of the country. When I use to buy plants and flowers for my yard, we always looked which zone they were best for.

[olhillbilly]

Those are the different zones that the US is placed in.

thought the zone numbers meant different parts of the country.

You two realize ya both said the same thing?

Yer both right. It is for different parts of the country. The Zones travel across the US and dictate differnt growing seasons according to the temperature changes. Zone 1 bein the Northern most area (cooler) and Zone 11 bein the southern most area (warmer)
I think I'm bouta zone 5.

I spect if yous on the other side of the equator, it'd be the other way. Meybe?

Meybe we can find a map of the zones an stick on here.

[joyce]

admin said:

You two realize ya both said the same thing?

Yea but I said mine first. ;D




www.garden.org/zipzone/

[califgirl]

Yes you did, all I was trying to say, was that it is what I thought you were talking about. I just worded it wrong.

[joyce]

It's alright.

[califgirl]

Thanks.