Some Things to do in the August Garden

 

August brings a full list of garden tasks, from harvesting and weeding to watering wisely and preparing for fall. Whether your garden is in containers, raised beds, or the ground, steady maintenance now helps plants stay productive and makes the seasonal transition easier.

August is typically the month when all your hard work comes to fruition. Tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, zucchini, beans, and other garden favorites are starting to ripen now, so keeping up with harvesting is especially important. Harvesting regularly not only lets you enjoy your produce at its peak but also encourages plants to keep producing.

When you pick ripe fruits, vegetables, or herbs, it tells the plant that it needs to produce more. Harvesting at the right time also ensures better taste, texture, and nutritional value and prevents crops from going to seed, which prolongs their productive phase. 

 

While you’re harvesting, take a hard look at your tomatoes and vegetables. Removing dead and diseased leaves on your tomato plants will put more energy into fruit production. Recognize common tomato problems such as blossom end rot (use Ready-To-Use ferti-lome Yield Booster or concentrated Cal-Mag to increase calcium levels) cracking (be consistent with watering).  

Heat, wind, uneven watering, poor soil, over fertilizing, insect damage can also cause tomato leaves to curl and twist. The best thing to do at this point is to work in your garden every day, maintain an even watering schedule, and keep using an organic fertilizer every two weeks.    

 

It's not too early to think about planting a fall crop. As you harvest, start to prepare the garden or raised bed for cool weathers crops. Remove any spent foliage left over from summer’s crops. Next, work two to three inches of compost and worm castings into the top six inches of the planting site.   Rake the bed to level it and you’re ready to plant. Fall crops can be planted from seeds or plant starts or a combination of the two.  

 

If you’re not planning a fall crop, consider planting a cover crop, such as peas and oats or winter rye. 

A cover crop will help improve soil structure, soil fertility, and protect the living portion of your soil, including micro-organisms. 

 

Irrigate, don’t water. Conserving water is always important, so whether you water with a hose or a drip system, it’s important to water at the ground level not overhead. By positioning the drip system emitter or hose end sprayer where it’s needed, you’ll optimize plant water consumption and reduce water waste due to evaporation.  

 

Get in the habit of carrying a pair of light pruners with you as you make your rounds. As you spot a blossom beginning to fade, snip it off.  In gardening terms it’s called deadheading, which simply means pruning off the old flowers. This keeps the garden neat and promotes additional blooms on perennials such as Hardy Hibiscus, and Butterfly Bushes.   

 

Do the same for your container plants, including hanging baskets. Fertilize your baskets and containers every two weeks with ferti-lome 20-20-20.   

 

Check your roses and remove any spent blossoms. Mid-August is the time to feed your roses for the season. Water each rose bush, then apply the fertilizer and water thoroughly.  

 

Keep an eye out for summer weeds. They take advantage of cultivated garden soil to grow vigorously and can produce several generations during the summer season.  If they're in the vegetable bed, pull them or use a horticultural vinegar to help control them before they seed out.

 

Powdery mildew may be seen on squash, pumpkins, as well as peonies and other ornamentals. Organic fungicides such as Sulfur will help contain the spread. Once the season is over, it’s important to do a thorough cleanup. Leaving spent vegetation in place will encourage mildew and other diseases to winter over and reinfect your garden next spring. 

Taking care of these issues as you find them is the best way of preventing bigger problems next season.      

Keep a detailed record of your garden by starting a gardening journal. Note specifics like planting dates, varieties chosen, weather patterns, pest or disease problems, and how much you harvest from each crop. Throughout the season, take pictures to visually track plant growth and the overall progress of your garden.

Reviewing your notes and photos at the end of the season can make next year’s planning far more effective. For example, you’ll be able to remember which varieties gave the best yields, pinpoint spots that received ideal sunlight, and identify when pests or diseases first appeared so that you can implement preventative strategies or adjust planting times. With these insights, you can rotate crops more wisely, select plants better suited to your garden, and improve your harvest year after year.

What's in a name

 Rhaphidophora tetrasperma – Mini Monstera

"What's in a name?"

Mini Monstera, Monstera Ginny, and Ginny Philodendron are all common names for Rhaphidophora tetrasperma. Despite carrying "Monstera" and "Philodendron" in its popular nicknames, it belongs to the genus Rhaphidophora. If you are already a bit confused, that's alright. We are going to break down the origins, climate, care, and styling ideas that best suit this compact version of the deeply fenestrated (split-leaf) monstera. 

The Mini Monstera is native to Thailand and Malaysia. In its natural habitat, it can be found climbing trees and rocks in the humid, shady canopy of Southeast Asian rainforests. It belongs to the arum family (Araceae) and grows as a semi-epiphyte. This means it grows partially in the soil and partially on other living plants. A true monstera, however, will not be found in these same rainforests. Instead, true monsteras grow wild, large, and luscious in Central and South America. 

How to Care for Your Mini Monstera

Temperature: Average warmth. Maintain a minimum of 50°F in the winter. Active growth starts at 65°F. 

• Light: Keep out of direct sunlight. Choose a spot in light shade or moderate brightness. Bright, indirect light in Colorado homes can include spots near an east, west, or south-facing window with sheer curtains. Avoid harsh, direct afternoon sun, which will scorch the leaves. 

• Water: During winter, keep the soil just moist, not waterlogged. Through the warmer months, water thoroughly but allow the top 2 inches of soil to dry out between waterings. 

• 
  

• Repotting: Consider transferring to a pot 1–2 inches larger every two years. Always check the root system first. Make sure the roots are reaching the edges of the current pot before moving it to a larger home. 

• Air Humidity: Many of these tropical plants benefit from added humidity, especially through the winter months when the heater is running. Misting the leaves, providing a pebble tray, running a humidifier, or grouping plants together are all great ways to provide what your plant is craving. 

• 
  

Tip: Don't hesitate to give your plant a shower and wipe down the leaves when it is time to water. Wiping and washing the leaves removes dust, allowing your plant to better photosynthesize in your home environment. 

The Fun Stuff!

Now that you've decided to take care of one of these fantastic jungle finds, what’s next? Do you hang it, put it on the floor, or place it on a shelf? Is there a right way? This plant is incredibly versatile, featuring strong, rapidly growing, and trailing limbs. 

• Minimal effort: Let your plant hang and sprawl through the air or place it on a shelf to naturally cascade and find its way around your space. 

• 
  

• A bit more effort: Plant it with a trellis. Keeping the plant tight and tall can fill awkward corners with a splash of lively green without feeling too congested. You can also train it to stay narrow and compact by cutting it back frequently. This promotes fresh, bushy growth and potentially could keep the plant small enough to sit on a coffee or end table! 

• 
  

• A visionary effort: Create a statement piece by training the plant to climb your walls, staircases, and doorways. This process is easily assisted with command hooks or invisible clips. Just be aware that the aerial roots of semi-epiphytic plants may try to burrow into your walls if there is any trapped moisture. While this is unlikely in dry Colorado homes, it is not impossible. 

• 
  

• A wild idea: The Mini Monstera works beautifully on custom trellis. Get creative! What could you use as a trellis that you already own? Could it be trained onto a room divider alongside other tropical plants like neon pothos? This creates a stunning, living wall of privacy. 

• 
  

• 
  
  
  

With its bold, split leaves and fast-growing nature, Rhaphidophora tetrasperma brings a striking, tropical aesthetic to any home. Whether it cascades from a hanging basket or climbs vertically, this adaptable plant easily transforms your space into a lush, personal oasis.