Extension

Vegetables

By David Hillock, Senior Extension Specialist

August is a good month to start your fall vegetable garden. Bush beans, cucumbers, and summer squash can be replanted for another crop. Beets, broccoli, carrots, potatoes, lettuce, and other cool-season crops can also be planted at this time.HLA-6009 Fall Gardening

Soak vegetable seed overnight prior to planting. Once planted, cover them with compost to avoid soil crusting. Mulch to keep planting bed moist and provide shade during initial establishment. Monitor and control insect pests that prevent a good start of plants in your fall garden.

Fruit and Nut

By David Hillock, Senior Extension Specialist

Continue protective insect applications on the fruit orchard. A good spray schedule is often abandoned too early. Follow directions on last application prior to harvest.EPP-7319 Home Tree Fruit Production and Pest Management

Flowers

By David Hillock, Senior Extension Specialist

Towards the end of the month, divide and replant spring-blooming perennials like iris, peonies, and daylilies if needed.

Trees and Shrubs

By David Hillock, Senior Extension Specialist

Discontinue deadheading roses by mid-August to help initiate winter hardiness.
Watch for second generation of fall webworm in late August/early September. Remove webs that enclose branches and destroy or spray with good penetration with an appropriate insecticide.

Lawn and Turf

By David Hillock, Senior Extension Specialist

• Winter annual weeds like Poa annua, better known as annual bluegrass, chickweed and henbit can be prevented with a preemergence herbicide application in late August. Water in the product after application. HLA-6420 Lawn Management in Oklahoma
• Areas of turf with large brown spots should be checked for high numbers of grubs. Mid-to-late August is the best time to control heavy white grub infestations in the lawn. Apply appropriate insecticide if white grubs are a problem. Water product into soil. EPP-7306 Ornamental and Lawn Pest Control For Homeowners
• Tall fescue should be mowed at 3 inches during the hot summer and up to 3½ inches if it grows under heavier shade. HLA-6420 Lawn Management in Oklahoma
• For areas being converted to tall fescue this fall, begin spraying out bermudagrass with a product containing glyphosate in early August. HLA-6419 Establishing a Lawn in Oklahoma and HLA-6421 Controlling Weeds in Home Lawns
• Irrigated warm-season lawns can be fertilized once again; apply 0.5 lb N/1,000 sq ft in early to mid-August.
• Brown patch of cool-season grasses can be a problem. HLA-6420 Lawn Management in Oklahoma

General

By David Hillock, Senior Extension Specialist

• Water compost during extremely dry periods so that it remains active. Turn the pile to generate heat throughout for proper sterilization.
• Always follow directions on both synthetic and natural pesticide products.
• Watch for high populations of caterpillars, aphids, spider mites, thrips, scales, and other insects on plant material in the garden and landscape and treat as needed. EPP-7306 Ornamental and Lawn Pest Control For Homeowners
• Water all plants thoroughly unless rainfall has been adequate. It is better to water more in depth, less often and early in the morning.