| By August many gaps have developed in the flower | | | | Roses usually slow down their production of flowers |
| garden, especially in the borders. Some annuals that | | | | during August. This semi-dormant condition is |
| provided seasonal color have died out, and need | | | | encouraged in order to condition the plants for a |
| replacement. Make plantings of the fall flowering | | | | display of September and October blooms. During the |
| annuals or some of the short day flowers. Try | | | | last half of August, a very light feeding of an |
| plantings of zinnias, marigolds, balsam, petunias, and | | | | all-purpose fertilizer will stimulate fall bloom and will not |
| nasturtiums for another splash of late color. Many | | | | leave the plant in succulent growth too late. There |
| garden centers may have a supply of geraniums for | | | | should be no feeding later than September 10, |
| planting in August to give fall color. Also, some of the | | | | because if there is, the plants cannot prepare |
| perennials will be available as container plants and can | | | | themselves to withstand cold weather. |
| be used very effectively. Dahlias may be cut back to | | | | With cool nights and shorter days, the internal |
| stimulate a new crop of late flowers. | | | | structure of the plants will undergo a change |
| Pruning | | | | whereby the sugars become complex forms of |
| This chore goes on all the time for the alert | | | | starches and carbohydrates that actually are |
| landscape gardener. Certainly the period of bloom can | | | | "anti-freeze" compounds. These compounds normally |
| be prolonged for the crape myrtle and butterfly bush | | | | prevent serious winter damage to plants such as |
| by judicious removal of the old bloom spikes. In the | | | | ficus loosing leaves. Late feedings disturb this |
| case of the crape myrtle, many towns throughout | | | | phenomenon, and the plants can not make the |
| the South have made city-wide plantings of this | | | | adjustment to withstand the extreme cold which |
| shrub because of the late summer habit of blooming. | | | | sometimes occurs throughout our section. |
| I will never forget my first butterfly bush (Buddleia). | | | | Lilies |
| It was also dubbed summer lilac because of the soft | | | | The gorgeous display of lilies during August reminds all |
| spikes of lilac-colored flowers, but it also was always | | | | plant lovers to plan to plant some of these old |
| covered with butterflies. If you have not tried this | | | | favorites another year. The thrill of seeing the old |
| one, by all means do so as the new hybrid varieties | | | | favorites of lilies always stimulates the desire for |
| are unsurpassed for late summer color. They range in | | | | more of these garden lilies. Just look what the |
| color from white through lavender, rose and purple. | | | | hybridizers have done with the lilies! They are true |
| All of the flowering plants can be pruned lightly | | | | garden aristocrats and most are easy to grow, |
| through the growing season to encourage new | | | | vigorous and dependable. Madonna lilies should be dug, |
| growth for production of flowers. This remedial | | | | divided and replanted now for bloom next June. Keep |
| pruning, when properly done, can easily control the | | | | these bulbs protected from exposure to direct sun, |
| growth habits of the plants, also. | | | | as rotting can be caused by baking in the sun. |
| Roses Slowing Down | | | | |