Herbs, Tomatoes and August Garden Chores

This year I did not grow vegetables -

but I do have some parsley on hand.

I grew two patio containers of tomatoes and have had a wonderful

crop so far - there is nothing like tasting a tomato picked fresh from the vine.

I have several varieties of mint which has a pleasant odor and helps to repel mosquitoes. Also, cats do not care for the smell of mint.

Caution: mint can be very invasive

so be careful where you plant it. One method is to plant it into a plastic plant container and place into the soil. The container will contain the roots as they try to spread around.

August garden chores

WEEDING: The main chore this month is weeding: Every weed pulled now is a hundred or more that you don’t have to deal with later. Don’t let them go to seed.

Take a look at each flower bed weekly, since weeds are not just unsightly but steal moisture, nutrients and light from desired plants.

DEADHEAD: faded flower stalks and blossoms of annuals and perennials unless they have showy seed heads, or you want to collect the seeds later (non-hybrids only).This will stimulate regrowth of new stems and bloom.

DIVIDE: spring-blooming perennials like gaillardia, violets, Louisiana iris, bearded iris, Shasta daisies, etc. Replant into a bed to which you have added compost, humus or manure, and water well to help them re-establish.

DAYLILIES: can be dug and divided as they complete their bloom cycle, right into fall, if needed.