Quotation of the Week: "We may well wonder whether there can be any new plant left to be introduced, so great is the variety we possess, and so far afield have collectors searched." — Frank Kingdon-Ward, 1930

August Gardening

Watering, weeding, and deadheading (and harvesting, if you are growing vegetables and herbs) head the list of projects for this month. Watering - Watering may be the biggest job this month, especially when the weather gets hot. To keep a lawn green and lush, water about one inch every five to seven days. Make a frequent check of flowers and vegetables for their watering needs. Generally, you'll want to give them about an inch of water each week; deep, less frequent watering is better for them than frequent surface watering. When possible, water in the morning so the soil has a chance to warm up before the cooler evening hours set in, as well as giving the foliage plenty of time to dry. Check outdoor container plants every day during hot weather and about every second day in more moderate weather. Water them thoroughly each time you water. Weeding - With warmer weather and more frequent watering, weed seeds will germinate faster. In addition, many weeds seed at this time of year and the seeds will be blown or carried into your garden. Take time to keep the weeds cultivated out of all parts of the garden. Many weeds are hosts to insects and diseases. Keep them under control, so pests and diseases do not infest your other garden plants. Harvesting - Pick fruits and vegetables as soon as they're ripe. Overripe fruits especially can attract a number of pests, and in this month's hotter weather, they will rot very quickly. Deadheading - Keep deadheading flowers as they fade; not only will the plants look better, but if they're allowed to produce and shed their seeds, they're more likely to stop producing new blooms. Just a little time spent on grooming the plants really makes a big difference in the appearance of the garden. Other Chores Fall Vegetables - Right now is the time to start fall and winter vegetables. Plant or seed them directly into the garden or start them indoors. Green onions, carrots, beets, lettuce, spinach, radishes, and over-wintering cauliflower are the most popular vegetables to grow in the winter garden. If you choose not to have a winter vegetable garden, consider planting a nitrogen-fixing cover crop to be turned into the soil in the spring. Lawns - Watering is by far the most important lawn project this month. Water in the morning when it is still cool, so there will be less water lost to evaporation and so the lawn will not remain cool and damp overnight (and attract fungus or algae). Raise the cutting height on your mower to keep grass longer, conserving water and helping roots stay cool. Wildflower seeds tend to be ripe by late summer, so if you have a meadow to mow, this is a good month to hop on the tractor. Perennials and Biennials - Many plants can be started from seed sown directly into the garden this month or next. Iris and other early-blooming perennials can still be divided this month and even into September. Choose a cool day or time of day, and give them a tall drink of water in their new locations. Planning and Planting - This is the month to select fall bulbs for planting. Design your garden now, rather than waiting till the last minute. If you haven't yet removed dead and dying spring blooming-annuals, do so, and amend the soil for later planting. Replant with fresh color to add fall magic to your yard. Houseplants - Houseplants will need to be watered more often this month, especially if they're in a sunny window. If you are going on vacation, move plants out of direct sunlight, especially those in south-facing windows. If you have a helpful neighbor who will water them, good. Otherwise, water them thoroughly before you leave. Slugs and Bugs - Take time to examine the garden on a weekly basis to see if slugs or any kind of bugs are ruining the appearance of any of your flowers or shrubs. Our nursery professionals can help you determine what is causing the problem and recommend the appropriate steps to take to eliminate the culprits.

Easy Anaerobic Composting

Anaerobic composting is, aside from digging a pit or filling a bag, practically labor-free. It's also a good method for those who don't have room for a big compost heap or compost bin, or live in a community where such things are banned. After a time, the pit or bag can be emptied and will yield a fairly well-matured compost. Burying waste in a pit is an easy way to recycle. It also permits the material to stay warmer in the winter and damper in the summer. Underground rotting lets bacteria, anaerobic fungi and worms change stinky waste into (eventually) sweet-smelling soil. Just dig pits about 12"-14" deep, dump the waste in, and cover with about 8"of soil. Don't plant food crops over the pit for a year or so. If you have a small garden that is worked by hand, try burying the waste in long trenches. Food crops can eventually be made directly on top of the covered trench, but it is not wise to do this too soon (non-food plants can be planted almost immediately). Allow plenty of time for decomposition before planting food crops. Growing food in too-raw garbage can spread diseases to us. Root crops, especially, may pick up parasites which have not yet been destroyed by the anaerobic processes - and give them to us. One of the best trenching methods involves rotating your trenches. Lay out your garden in wide rows, dividing each row into three narrow strips; one strip serves as a path (fallow soil), one as a mulching trench, and one for planting. Rotate every year for three years - in order: mulching trench to planting strip to fallow path. This gives you a safe time for the mulch to decompose and become safe to use for food crops. Quick and Easy Garbage Bag Method In the heat of summer, you can also use a black garbage bag. Fill it with about with one-third soil, and fill the rest with (vegetable) kitchen scraps and garden/lawn scraps. Add enough water to make mixture damp, but not soggy. Dampen the contents and mix thoroughly. Place in a warm, full-sun location (but protect it from animals - a repellent spray will be effective). Leave for about six weeks before opening. Warning - when you open the bag, hold your nose - anaerobic composting is a stinky process. Empty the contents of the bag in a corner of your backyard or leave the bag open, dig in some more soil and let the pile continue to work for a few days. Once the compost is exposed to oxygen, the odor soon goes away. You can then use it as a mulching compost or soil amendment (see above for cautions on food plants). Composting is a great way to recycle, as well as feed your soil. Try it!

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What you need: 2 large eggs 1 (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk 1/3 cup fresh lime juice 1/4 teaspoon grated lime zest 1/8 teaspoon salt 1-1/4 cups mincemeat, divided 1 (9-inch) baked piecrust 1 cup sour cream 1/4 cup granulated sugar 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract Step by Step: Preheat oven to 350°F. Beat eggs in a medium bowl. Add condensed milk and mix well. Add lime juice, lime zest and salt to egg mixture and mix well. Add 1/4 cup mincemeat and mix well. Spoon mixture into prepared piecrust. Bake for 8 minutes. Combine sour cream, granulated sugar and vanilla extract in a small bowl and mix well. Spread evenly over lime mixture. Bake for another 8 minutes. Spoon remaining mincemeat around the edge of the pie, making a 1-1/2 inch border. Cool completely and chill, covered, for 30 minutes before serving. Yield: 8 servings