August Landscaping and Gardening Tips for West Linn Homeowners
Poet Anne Sexton advises her readers to “Hesitate in August. Be shy. Let your toes tremble in their sandals.” Many lawn care maintenance firms and landscaping companies would certainly disagree – after all, if you just sit around watching your toes tremble all month, the weeds will soon destroy your landscaping. West Linn and Portland residents should instead complete the following tasks recommended by landscaping companies in order to see gorgeous results in your landscaping.
West Linn and Portland August Gardening Tasks
Vegetables to start from seed in August: The Pacific Northwest climate allows gardeners to enjoy fresh vegetables year-round. Plant these seeds to enjoy fall and winter crops:
- Carrots
- Radishes
- Turnips
- Overwintering bulb onions (after Aug. 15)
- Endive
- Spinach
- Arugula
- Cabbage
- Loose leaf lettuce (before Aug. 15)
- Overwintering cauliflower (before Aug. 15)
Vegetable transplants to plant in August: The vegetables listed below will provide fall and winter crops if you put in transplants now. This is a great option for those who would rather avoid the difficulties of growing from seed.
- Brussels sprouts
- Beets
- Broccoli
- Cauliflower
- Cabbage
- Collard greens
- Kale
Summer crops to harvest: Landscaping West Linn and Portland yards can be highly enjoyable – especially when you have lush crops of herbs and vegetables to harvest. These crops should be ready to gather this month, although don’t be discouraged if the late summer is delaying your harvest:
- Basil
- Beans (all varieties)
- Beets
- Broccoli
- Carrots
- Cauliflower
- Collards
- Corn
- Cucumber
- Garlic
- Kale
- Leeks
- Lettuce
- Melons
- Onions
- Peppers
- Potatoes
- Summer squash
- Swiss chard
- Tomatoes
Protect delicate vegetables and plants. As the autumn rains approach, you might want to create row covers for plants that could be harmed by heavy precipitation. Swiss chard, spinach and other leafy greens, for example, benefit from protection from the rain.
It shouldn’t be difficult to create a row cover (sometimes called a cloche) for your leafy greens. Simply purchase clear plastic materials from one of many local landscaping companies. Then use wire hoops to create a low tunnel for your delicate landscaping. West Linn and Portland residents will discover many other cloche options at local gardening or landscaping companies.
Landscaping Tasks for August
Lawn care. Pacific Northwest residents should continue to cut their lawns regularly throughout the month of August. The same approach applies to fertilizing, which should be done every six weeks.
Pruning. Deadhead old flowers to encourage fall growth. If you have overgrown trees and bushes in your yard, August is a great time to cut them back – doing so in the summer will slow their growth for the following year. Yard and lawn care maintenance providers often complete their final pruning of the year in August, as this ensures that shrubs and trees will look their best as new growth will push in the fall.
Final fertilization for flowers. If you fertilize your flowers, August is the final month of the year for feeding. Fertilizing roses and other blooming plants now will give them the strength they need to harden off before winter.
Deep watering. August’s dry, hot weather will decimate your plants unless you water them regularly. Practice good water conservation by installing an irrigation system or simply moving your hose around the yard to water each plant deeply at its roots.
