The lazy days of summer are still with us and summer is at its peak. In August it always seems that the whole world is awakened, active and growing. The air is filled with sounds of the locusts, a most pleasant summer symphony. Birds are especially active now and hummingbirds are feeding like mad for their long journey south. The recent rain has revived many plantings and the heat makes for rapid growth and profuse flowering. This is a time to be savored, when the garden is at its summer peak. Enjoy these bountiful summer days while they last.

The lazy time of just watching things grow and collecting tomatoes is coming to a close. The cooler weather and rain will help to invigorate even the most burnt-out of dried-up gardeners.

Here’s some garden activities especially suited for our area in September.

PLANT AND TRANSPLANT
Evergreen trees, shrubs, ground covers, perennials, early spring bulbs container-grown asters, chrysanthemums, wildflower meadows (Use regional mix for best results.)

Pot hardy spring bulbs (anemone, crocus, daffodil, hyacinth, ranunculus, tulip); place in cool garage or sink into the ground and mulch. Keep evenly moist; bring into house in December to force bloom.

PRUNE
Root-prune to ready plants for spring transplanting (especially broadleaf evergreens).
Root-prune wisteria reluctant to bloom.

FERTILIZE
Peonies with bonemeal.
Roses

CHORES & MAINTENANCE
Complete major fall lawn work. Seed or sod new lawns. Keep grass seed damp; sprinkle every day if necessary. Mow when new grass is 3” high.
Feed established lawns to stimulate winter root development. Water bulb beds if season is dry. Lift tender bulbs (caladium, canna, dahlia, gladiolus, tuberous begonia) after first freeze.

For propagation, take perennial and annual cuttings to increase stock. Move tender perennials to cold frame or mulch to protect roots.
Install automatic drip irrigation system to conserve water and keep moisture off foliage.
Prepare beds for fall and spring planting. Edge and weed existing beds and mulch.
Dig and divide crowded summer perennials; transplant “volunteer” perennials;
Mark late-emerging perennials to avoid damaging them during spring cleanup
Pot tender perennials to winter over in cold frame or garage.
Continue to water trees and shrubs until ground freezes.
Begin feeding birds.
Watch for aphids, fungus, Japanese beetles, lace bugs, mites, whiteflies.

THE VEGETABLE GARDEN
Plant cool-season salad greens (arugula, corn-salad, lettuce, radishes, spinach)
Plant asparagus, berry bushes. Protect tender plants from early frost.
Pot herbs (chives, oregano, rosemary, sweet marjoram) for indoor use. Sow parsley in pot.

ANIMAL DETERRENT
Deer are adaptable animals and can be serious garden pests in rural and suburban gardens. They are drawn to many common ground plants including roses, fruit trees, shrubs, even turf!

Deer browse on the new leafy growth and terminal buds of plants. Heavy browsing can kill the plant, but even light browsing can cause misshapen growth.
Want to deter deer from your garden? Try combining three or four eggs with a gallon of water and spraying it on your plants. Deer don’t like it and you won’t smell it. No guarantee if the deer are very hungry.

Robin Milliken is a Landscape Specialist and Master Gardener
The Master Gardener appears monthly in The Olathe Daily News.
© H&R Lawn and Landscape

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