Will August 2020 be Hot and Droughty Too?

How hot was it in July?

Too hot for Ferris to nap on the patio behind the outdoor sofa. This is one of his favorite spots to hide and sleep. Napping is about the best part of the day when weather is consistently in the 90s. Not that I nap very often these days, I should, we all should according to Reader's Digest.

I counted at least twenty days in July that were over 90 degrees. What will August be like? I predict more of the same but hoping for fewer 90s, so are the tomatoes. I'm diligent about utilizing shade cloth each afternoon to cool them a few degrees, it's helping quite a bit and ripe ones should be on the menu soon. Sungold tomatoes are eaten as fast as they ripen. Hands down, Sungold is one of the best tasting cherry tomatoes on the market.

August is a great month to freshen up containers that look like they've lost their spark. First, try perking them up with a good pruning of dead and leggy growth. If they still look a bit puny, head out to your favorite garden center and shop for annuals that are blooming now and will continue for several weeks. Consider some bright colored snap dragons, cosmos, dahlias and rudbeckia that will look great and take you all through fall until frost. It may seem invasive to the plants (it's not), dig around the poor performing plant, lift out and plant new ones. Buy plants large enough to fill the space that is dug out or double up on 2 and 4 inch sized plants. Add new potting soil in and around the plants. Sprinkle some slow release fertilizer around and water the whole container.

Another must do while shopping is to pick up some herb plants, and pop them in a smaller sized container or individual pots that can transition into the house in a couple of months. The easiest ones to grow in containers, plus they look awesome are chives, oregano, basil and rosemary.

Check out other August to dos here.