August Gardening Tips from Pike Family Nurseries

Welcome to the "dog days" of summer, so called because the Dog Star (Sirius) rises and sets with the sun at this time of year. In the southeast, "dog days" are usually associated with the hottest, muggiest days of the summer season. Because of the intense heat and humidity, most major landscaping projects are usually postponed until the fall season arrives. Not only are the temperatures milder, but the fall season is actually the best time of the year for planting. Why? From mid-September until mid-December, air temperatures cool down and daylight hours shorten. When this happens, plant growth above the ground slows down or stops altogether. Although the air is cooler, soil temperatures remain warm for a time allowing plants to transfer their energies from top growth to root development. By the following spring, your plants should have a healthy, vigorous root system that is able to support the plant with the water and nutrients it requires.