August Jobs - Things to Take Care Of

What to do, this Month

With one month until the calendar flips over to spring, late winter is best spent doing all those 'last minute' tasks to get ready for the new growing season.

• At this time of year, the North / South divide is at it's most obvious. Tasks that can be done in the sunny North, won’t be possible for a few weeks or more down in the South. For the best results, take the time to understand your climate
• Have patience. It can be tempting to try to ‘get a jump on the growing season’, but sowing summer seeds too soon can result in stressed seedlings waiting for the ideal conditions outdoors. The best time to sow most warm season seeds is 6 – 8 weeks before the last frost day. This is usually Labour Weekend (October) in the North and Canterbury Show Weekend (November) in the South
• Cut down cover crops as they begin to bloom and before they set seed, so they have plenty of time to break down...for their nutrients to be bioavailable for the new season plants
• Get ready for spring planting by removing weeds from garden beds, enrich the soil with compost and Dynamic Lifter and top up organic mulch on bare soil
• Gather last minute supplies, check tools and containers are in good working order and make sure your working space is clean, clear and ready for a busy season

Trees and Shrubs

• Feed trees and shrubs with a slow-release fertiliser to, provide nutritional support for the new season growth
• While tree branches are bare and it's easy to see, check for any winter damage or evidence of pest or disease infestation - take action to fix any problems
• Check ties, supports and swings to make sure they aren’t girdling the tree and damaging the bark
• It’s the last chance for pruning dormant trees. Watch out though, some trees, like maples, birches, and magnolias, will bleed sap heavily if pruned in late winter. To avoid this, wait until after these trees have fully leafed-out during late spring or early summer
• Refresh mulch around the root zone of trees to help manage soil temperatures, while the weather is still changeable

Vegie Tasks

• Feed vegies with a liquid fertiliser for a quick ‘pick me up’ as the weather begins to warm up and growth speeds up
• Make a plan for your summer edible garden, ensuring you've left enough space for all your chosen plants to grow to full size
• Chitting seed potatoes really helps to get them started. Put them in a dry spot with good airflow, but out of the direct sun to encourage sprouting
• Sow carrots, parsnips, beetroot, peas and radishes directly into the soil
• Perennial herbs can be divided to re-invigorate them. That's more plants for your garden, or to share with friends and whanau
• If your soil is acidic, now's the best time to add Lime to raise the soil pH to ideal levels. This will unlock nutrients and supercharge plant growth. Check pH levels to get an accurate assessment, or look for the tell-tale signs of acidic soil: yellow tips on young leaves of plants
• Despite peas preferring this cooler weather, pea seeds can easily rot before they sprout if they're overwatered. Protect them from slugs, snails and heavy frosts
• In warmer areas, you can begin sowing chillies, capsicums and tomatoes indoors

Fruit Trees and Berries

• There's still plenty of time to plant new fruit trees, for a sweet harvest in seasons to come
• Give fruit trees a generous feed to support new growth and fruiting. Spread a slow-release fertiliser around the root zone, taking care to avoid the area right around the trunk
• Prevent peach leaf curl in stone fruit by spraying peach and nectarine trees as the new buds start to swell
• Protect early blossoms from frost and strong winds
• It's the last chance to prune old growth and spray for pests and diseases on berry canes, grapes, passionfruit and feijoa
• Plant new strawberries and rhubarb now to allow time to establish before the harvest begins

Flowers Everywhere

• Add height to your borders by sowing tall spikey blooms like delphinium, foxglove, hollyhock, lupin, salvia, snapdragon and stock
• Finish pruning your roses before spring growth begins. Spray to protect the new growth from pests and diseases
• As camellias finish flowering, give them a trim and a feed with Yates Thrive Camellia, Gardenia & Blueberry Plant Food
• Remove tired winter annuals, refresh the soil with compost and Dynamic Lifter and plant out new season annuals for vibrant spring colour
• As the weather warms up, begin planting summer bulbs - adding bulb food to the soil to give them a good head start
• Spring flowering bulbs will appreciate a side dressing of bulb food. Deadhead spent flowers to channel the plant's energy into the bulb, rather than seed production. Leave the leaves on, to absorb nutrients into the bulb
• Weed carefully around existing plants to avoid damaging emerging perennial shoots
• Lift and divide perennials and replant them straight away, to rejuvenate them and increase the flower power in your garden

Love Your Lawn

• In cool areas grass growth halts over winter; in warmer areas the grass slows right down. With the change of season, new growth will take off. Mowing will stimulate it to grow faster, but it's balancing act; if your lawn is still sodden underfoot, it's better not to mow (or even walk on it at all), to avoid compacting the soil
• Evenly apply lawn fertiliser to support the new season growth. However if there's still a frost risk in your area, wait for warmer conditions
• Check your lawn for weeds; identify what they are to determine the best control. A selective herbicide (kills the weeds but leaves the grass unharmed) might be required. Weeds allowed to remain usually grow more vigorously than the grass and quickly take over the lawn.
• If moss has invaded your lawn, now's the ideal time to tackle it with Yates Surrender
• If you get down for a close-up look and see that your freshly cut grass has ragged tips, it's time to sharpen your mower blade. Cutting a wet lawn can also rip and tear grass, even with a sharp blade. A clean cut delivers a healthy lawn!