RADIO TRANSCRIPT
August 4, 2023
Taylor Campbell

This is Taylor Campbell, horticulture extension agent with North Carolina Cooperative Extension Burke Center. Today’s program is on August gardening tasks.

In August, it is essential to focus on fertilizing and planting activities to ensure a healthy garden. Strawberry growers should fertilize with nitrogen during this month. However, it is advised not to fertilize shrubs in August through November. Gardeners can sow pansy seeds in flats for planting in September and also plant spider lily bulbs. For next spring, sow seeds of hollyhock, delphinium, and stokesia. Continue repotting houseplants.

August is a good time to plant fall vegetables such as beets, Chinese cabbage, cucumber, kale, lettuce, mustard, radish, rutabaga, spinach, and turnip. It is advised not to prune shrubs in August through October. Bleeder trees like maple, dogwood, birch, and elm can be pruned during this time.

It is important to monitor for insects and, if needed, spray landscape shrubs for pests like spider mites on arborvitae and juniper, or lace bugs on azalea and Pyracantha. The rose spray program should be continued to prevent fungus on roses. Spraying peach and nectarine tree trunks is recommended to control peach tree borers. Broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, and squash should be monitored and sprayed for worms and borers.

Irish potatoes can be harvested when their foliage has died back completely.

Various plants are in bloom, including crape myrtle, Rose-of-Sharon, Abelia, Canna, Dahlia, Milkweed, Phlox, Cleome, Hosta, and more.

This has been Taylor Campbell, horticulture extension agent with North Carolina Cooperative Extension Burke Center. For more information, call us at 764-9480.