1. Avoid pruning shrubs and trees until early next spring.

2. Fertilize roses to encourage new growth before winter.

3. Sourwoods are the first fall-flowering trees to blossom. Look for their flowers in early August.

4. Late summer blooming shrubs include Hydrangea arborescens and Hydrangea paniculata.

5. Perennials, annuals and bulbsPlant some fall blooming cros bulbs and order spring bulbs.

6. Purchase or divide a perennial.

7. Groom annual and perennial bedding plants, as well as vegetables.

8. If perennials and annuals are growing poorly, cut them back by 1/3  to 1/2.

1. Visit the vegetable garden daily and harvest as needed to keep production up.

2. Plant fall vegetables, like beans, greens and cabbage by August 15th.

3. Plant fall vegetable seeds such as carrots, beets, radishes and turnips.

4. Prune out canes of blackberries and most varieties of raspberries that produced fruit this year; they will not produce next year.

5. Check with the Master Gardener Hot line for those varieties of raspberries that should not be pruned each fall.  MG Hotline in Sevier County (TN) is 865-453-3695.

Lawn - August Tips

1. Check lawns for disease and begin treatment, if necessary.

2. Deep water lawns early in the morning during the dry season.

3. Treating your lawn with milky spore or other grub control methods can decrease beetle attacks. 

4. Mow your lawn when crabgrass and other weeds start sending up seed heads. 

1. Place your houseplant, pot and all, inside a basket or decorative container for a change of pace.   

2. The August sun can be very hot, check any plants you have in windows for burned leaves and move the plant away from the intense sun rays. 

1. Harvest herbs and make herbal vinegars. 

2. Keep hummingbird feeders filled and cleaned during fall migration. 

3. Watch plants for sudden changes; these could be caused by insect or disease attacks.

4. Work in the garden early in the day while it is cooler.