It is time to take cuttings of annuals such as geraniums and begonias that are to be kept over the winter.
Coleus can be rooted by simply placing the cuttings in water -- remove any leaves that are under water. Cool nights in September will harden off the plants, which will make them more difficult to root.
Take a tip cutting 2 to 3 inches long and stick it in a well-drained potting medium, such as one part peat moss and one part perlite. Keep the cuttings in humidity and bright light. Cover the cuttings with a plastic bag and ventilate daily by opening and resealing the bag. Once they are well-rooted, typically in two to four weeks, transplant to a 2- to 4-inch pot filled with a growing medium. The size of the new pot will depend on the vigor of the rooted cuttings.
• Populations of yellow jackets (a yellow-bodied social wasp) build up in summer. They are unwelcome visitors to picnics and are particularly attracted to sweet things like soda. Practicing good sanitation is the best way to minimize any pest problems.
Yellow jackets tend to make their nests in the ground or in stone walls, so watch these areas as you are working in the garden. When the weather is warm during the day, there will be a lot of activity with the yellow jackets flying in and out of the nest.
Bald-faced hornets construct large paper nests in trees and large shrubs at head height and above so you should be aware as you are working in the garden. Paper wasps will build nests under eaves, signs and fence railings and will sting if disturbed.
These are beneficial insects so control them only if they pose a threat to you or others.
• Espaliered plants can soften large blank spaces on walls or fences when there is minimal bed space. To train espaliers, young supple twigs and branches are bent to meet design requirements. Carefully tie the branches in place with raffia or plastic tape. The ties should be secured loosely so the flow of water and nutrients through the tree's stems is not constricted. Make adjustments to ties during the growing season as necessary. Formal espaliers do need regular pruning to keep them looking good and will likely need to be pruned several times over the course of summer.
• Do not forget to check the oil and clean out the air filter on your lawn mower on a regular basis. The engine can be ruined by letting it run out of oil. A clogged air filter will impair performance of the engine.
• Tim Johnson is director of horticulture at Chicago Botanic Garden, chicagobotanic.org.
The Link LonkAugust 23, 2020 at 07:02PM
https://www.dailyherald.com/entlife/20200823/start-next-years-flower-garden-this-summer
Start next year's flower garden this summer - Chicago Daily Herald
https://news.google.com/search?q=Flower&hl=en-US&gl=US&ceid=US:en
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