Sustainable Fairfax

August is a tough month in the garden for our area. This far into the dry season, the extra heat can really be hard on tender plants. Even natives, if they’re not established, or are used to gentle coastal fogs, may need extra water at this time of the year. Stressed plants not only wither, but become more susceptible to pests and diseases. On hot days, citrus and other fruit trees may drop fruit if they do not receive enough water this month.

Make sure your trees and beds have a thick, water-retaining layer of mulch to regulate solid temperature and avoid damage from drought. Getting your garden chores out of the way early in the morning is a great way for you to avoid the excessive heat, too.

Tasks for August:

• Deadhead the flowers that you will not be keeping for seed.
• Prune berry vines when you have finished harvesting the fruit.
• Place ripening melons on inverted aluminum pie tins, tiles, or boards to keep them off the soil. This avoids damage from overnight dampness and vermin, and reduces insect damage. The aluminum reflects heat, which helps the fruit ripen.
• Prop up fruit-heavy tree branches so they won’t break.
• Shade greens from intense sun.
• Pick up fallen fruit so it won’t attract pests or breed disease.
• Set out winter-garden vegetables during the next months. Peas, beets and other root crops can be grown from seed.
• Fertilize your heavy feeders, like corn, cucumbers, squash, lettuce and onions, using an organic fertilizer. A dilute solution of fish fertilizer once a week works well.
• Harvest herbs for drying.

Here are some tips for managing your garden as the July heat ramps up.

Save for next year: Mark the plants that you will be collecting seed from with ribbon or string. Choose the strongest, healthiest plants. For plants with delicate seeds, wrap cheesecloth around the seed pods to collect seeds before they disperse naturally.

Keep mulching! Continue to add wood chips or other mulch to retain moisture and regulate temperatures.

Get a Jump on Fall: Start or set out your starts for fall crops like cauliflower and broccoli, kale and bok choi.

Sow beans and late-season squash.

Start your beets, carrots, and chard.

Be patient: As hard as it is when the garden looks a little sparse, try to hold off installing new perennials, especially natives, until the fall.

Water first-season natives: Make sure newly-planted natives, even drought-tolerant ones, receive some supplemental water in this heat. Once established, these plants may need little to no supplemental water, but while they’re developing their root systems, they will need some help. Your efforts will be rewarded with tough, drought-tolerant plantings in the following years.