Garden Calendar for the month of August

Berry's 'August' depicts a hunting scene. Tres Riches Heures du Duc de Berry is the only Book of Hours to depict a hunting scene for August. The usual theme is threshing corn. It seems likely that the reason for the change in standard iconography is that the Duc de Berry wanted the change. The building in this painting is the Chateau of Etampes. The guinette tower of the chateau is still partially existent amongst the ruins.

Check apple maggot traps. 
Make compost of lawn clippings and garden plants that are ready to be recycled. Do not use clippings if lawn has been treated with herbicide, including "weed-and-feed" products. 
Control yellow jackets and wasps with traps and lures as necessary. 
Check for root weevils in ornamental shrubs and flowers; codling moth and spider mite in apple trees; scale insects in camellias, holly, maples. Treat as necessary. 
Plant winter cover crops in vacant space around the vegetable garden; plan winter kale, Brussels sprouts, turnips, parsnips, parsley, and Chinese cabbage. 

Dampwood termites begin flying late this month. Make sure your home is free of wet wood or places where wood and soil are in contact. 
Watch for corn earworm on early corn--treat as needed. 
Begin soil preparation for planting new lawn. 
Fertilize cucumbers, summer squash, and broccoli, while harvesting to maintain production. 
Clean and fertilize strawberry beds. 
Control caterpillars on leafy vegetables, as needed, with Bacillus thuringiensis. 
For mite control on ornamentals and most vegetables, hose off foliage. 
Monitor garden irrigation closely so crops and ornamentals don't dry out. 
Use mulch to protect ornamentals and garden plants from hot weather damage. 
Check for tomato hornworm. 
Mid-August to early September--fertilize lawn for last time this growing season. 
Western Oregon: mid-summer planting of peas; use enation-virus-resistant varieties, plant fall crops of cabbage, cauliflower, and broccoli. 
Oregon coast: plant spinach. 
Plant cauliflower, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, spinach, turnips, and parsnips. 
Camellias need deep watering to develop flower buds for next spring. 
Prune raspberries, boysenberries, and other caneberries after harvest. 
Prune away excess vegetation and new blossoms on tomatoes after mid-August. Concentrate on ripening set fruit.


Back to Corvallis Community Pages