August Gardening Guide By Patricia Porchey

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August Gardening Guide. By Patricia Porchey. This has been an unusually dry and hot summer which has made our enthusiasm to grow. more plants wane. …

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August Gardening Guide
By Patricia Porchey
This has been an unusually dry and hot summer which has made our enthusiasm to grow
more plants wane. Despite the heat, there is increase interest in growing our own
vegetables and growing them organically. This is the time to plan that fall garden. A
garden is only as good as the preparatory work that precedes the planting. This is more
than browsing through seed catalogs and seed racks.
The first thing to do is look at the site and soil. Is the location in the sun and near a water
supply? If it’s sandy soil and has never been amended, it’s especially important to add
some organic matter to improve its water-holding capacity. If it’s clay-like soil,
improving the drainage is important. Organic amendments such as peat humus,
composted manure and compost will support the soil’s microbiological activity and
contribute nutrients to the soil. The county has free compost available to homeowners.
Call 861-5000 for the pick-up site nearest you.
This is the perfect time to solarize the soil. First, remove all the vegetation, till the soil
with added amendments, and rake it smooth so there’s a slight mound…