If you have been able to keep up with your watering, your vegetables should be producing well this month. The tomatoes will slow down in the heat but don't give up. As the weather cools a little they will produce some more. We still have tomatoes in stock if you need to replace some or if you want to start a late crop.  They are 50% off until they are gone.

If you are battling the Squash Vine Borer and Squash Bugs, stop in and we will show you ways to keep the pesky bugs from ruining your crop.

We know it is HOT, but this is the best month to start your kale, cauliflower, broccoli, brussels sprouts, and lettuce. You can start them in containers in the shade and set them out in the garden as it starts to cool down. Be sure to keep them moist.

 

Remove any vegetables that are finished so all the moisture and nutrients are available to the vegetables still producing. You can plant another crop of beans this month.

 

 

Annuals

 Mark in your garden journal those plants that tolerate the heat best, this will be very handy next spring when you purchase your annuals.  Vinca, Angelonia, and Evolvulus 'Blue Daze' are great performers in the heat. They are pictured below and are a few of my personal favorites for heat tolerance. 

 

 

 

 

 

For better blooms and a longer bloom time, keep your annuals deadheaded and watered regularly.  You can also feed your annuals this month with a good fertilizer for bloom., Two fertilizers that we use here at Wyatt Farms are  Daniels and Fertilome for Bedding plants. 

 

 

 

Perennials

Again, mark in your garden journal those plants that tolerate the heat.  Some of our favorite summer bloomers are...

Russian Sage

Mexican Petunia (pictured below) 

Obedient Plant

Salvia 'Wendy's Wish'

Rudbecka 'Goldstrum' and 'Irish Eyes' (pictured below) 

Shasta Daisy 'Becky' and Snowcap'

Lantana 'Miss Huff'

 

 

   

 

 

Just like your annuals, you need to keep your perennials watered and deadheaded for best blooms.  You can also fertilize your perennials with Daniels or Fertilome for Bedding plants.  

 

 

Shrubs
Established shrubs are probably fairing the heat pretty well, but newly planted shrubs will need to be watered everyday.  You will want to consult a pruning chart for best pruning times, we often refer to Virginia Tech's Guide to Successful Pruning.  However, please adjust to our zone.

Some shrubs to make note of that are blooming well this month are...
Butterfly Bush
Drift Roses
Carpet Roses
Knockout Roses
Crepe Myrtle 'Razzle Dazzle Series'

Shrubs whose foliage looks great despite the heat are....
Gardenia
Euonymus 'Silver King'
Euonymus 'Greenspire'
Euonymus 'Chindo'

Vines

We have some wonderful vines in stock, if you mention this newsletter we will give you 40% off of vines for the months of August.   Some beauties are...

Wisteria 'Amethyst Falls'

Bignonia 'Tangerine Beauty'

Muscadine  

Carolina Jasmine 

 

 

Trees

Probably the most coveted trees in August are Crepe Myrtles, pictured below.  Crepe Myrtles come in all different shades of pink, white, lavender and red.  They range from 3 feet tall to 25 feet tall.  They are a must have in the landscape.

 

 

 

Established shade trees are also a 'must have' in the heat of August.  Some that we would suggest are...

Willow Oak

Live Oak

Red Maple

Sugar Maple

Black Gum

 

If you are interested in planting a large tree in your yard to provide shade, I would start planning now, but wait until temperatures drop in the Fall to plant.