The Gardening Challenges of August

This week, a friend came to visit my garden for the first time.  It is always a treat to show someone around the garden but, I must confess, August is really not the best time for a showing at Ledge and Gardens.  Her comment was ‘Your garden wears August well’.  What a nice thing to say, especially to a gardener whose eyes have wearied of the view.   I see the crabgrass gone viral in the lawn, wilting and browning foliage from drought, and a lack of color in the borders.  It is very easy to have a colorful garden in May and June.  The peonies and roses are at their best with full, lush blooms.  August requires a definite plan.  In August, the thick heavy air and languid heat combined with the rhythmic chirping of cicadas and crickets inspire this gardener to hit the lounge chair with a good book and that is as it should be. 

Every gardener needs a bit of a break but the garden should always be a pleasure to view.  It is difficult to plan for the changes nature imposes on us in the form of moisture or lack thereof.  Each season has its own challenges and rewards and the garden responds accordingly.  This year, August has been very dry, requiring a daily struggle with the hose.  The coneflowers, Russian sage and hyssop have barely noticed while the phlox and astilbe have sulked and shriveled.Hyssop Fortunately, planning can be done during the heat of these shortening days while any preparation, planting, or dividing of perennials can be done as the temperatures moderate in late summer and then be continued in springtime as the days lengthen. This season I did not mulch the gardens.  Since last season was so wet, and the foliage of the garden perennials always fills in the gaps, mulch just seemed to be non-essential.  This year, however, we have had a very dry August and mulch does help to retain moisture in addition to suppressing weeds.  I think the garden would have suffered less with a layer of mulch and the plants would have been happier.  Mulch also adds a layer of organic matter to the soil, improving it as it decomposes.  Lesson learned, yet again. 

I usually add annuals to my mixed borders to fill the gap.  Some would say this is cheating. Hogwash!  My garden, my rules. I like the color they add to both the border and the bouquet.  Last year it was balsam, Impatiens balsamina, which is an old fashioned annual and one which blends well in a perennial garden.  This year, I added zinnias and, to their credit, they seemed quite indifferent to the dry weather.   Next year will include a wider variety of annuals for both color and texture in the August garden and they will include dahlias and cannas, which do extend the season, add bold foliage, and flowers for cutting. One more goal is to keep up with deadheading the perennials, which just helps to lengthen their bloom time.  The bee balm  has been continuously deadheaded and is still blooming as it has been since June, which the hummingbirds and bees also appreciate. 

 A garden can always be improved upon and that is one of the great joys of gardening.  That said, it is also important to try to see your own garden through the eyes of another.  One who has not seen it before and one who is obviously delighted to be invited into your imperfect sanctuary.  That can be the ultimate satisfaction.