The hot summer days of August may make it challenging to find comfortable weather to work in the garden. Take advantage of when we have more pleasant days for working outdoors to complete these gardening tips for this month.

• Late summer is the most effective time to control fire ants with baits.
• August is the last month to fertilize bermudagrass, St. Augustinegrass, and zoysiagrass.  It is recommended to apply 1 pound of Nitrogen per 1,000 square feet. Do not fertilize centipedegrass.
• Treat lawns for grubs only if you find more than 5 grubs per square foot.

• Fall webworms form large masses of webbing on branch ends but usually do not cause much damage. If unsightly, rip webs open with a long pole or disrupt with a strong stream of water.
• Do not prune or fertilize landscape shrubs for the remainder of the year to allow them to prepare for dormancy. Properly acclimated plants have a greater degree of winter hardiness.
• Pull up tired annuals and dead head those that are healthy.
• Get a second bloom from faded annuals by cutting them back by one third their height, then feed them with a liquid fertilizer.
• If your houseplants saw a lot of new growth through the summer, they may need to be repotted into a larger container. This will give the plants time to acclimate to their new space before cooler weather arrives.
• Continue to apply mulch as needed to help conserve soil moisture and weed suppression.

• Be on the outlook for the pecan weevil.  The pecan weevil usually emerges from the soil in early August after significant rainfall.  Treatments should begin on the first of August after rainfall.  Drench the trunk and lower limbs with insecticide (Sevin).
• Order seeds for your fall vegetable garden.
• To grow your own transplants, start seed of broccoli, kale, collard, cabbage, Chinese cabbage, and cauliflower in containers of potting soil this month.
• Sow parsley seeds directly in the garden or in containers. Soak the seed in warm water for 6 to 8 hours before sowing.
• In late August, sow lettuce, spinach, arugula, and other salad greens in the garden or grow in containers.
• Direct seed carrots, beets, rutabaga, and kohlrabi.
• Spray peach tree trunks with permethrin to prevent peach tree borers from killing trees.

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• Visit the North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox to discover more plant ideas for your garden.