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Valhalla Gardens
is located on Mayne Island in the Gulf Islands of British
Columbia, Canada. The maritime growing conditions have a hardiness
rating of Zone 8. (See www.mayneisland.com for more information about Mayne
Island.)
Even in the warmer zones where it is possible for the die-hard
gardener to continue working in the garden through out the winter,
most of us take this time to pause and reflect upon the successes
of the year that has past and begin plans and dreams for the new
garden to come.
The following is a list of suggested gardening activities
and chores for the current and up coming months:
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July
Lawns:
Mow weekly, never cut more than one third of the blade at
a time. If water is in short supply, save it for your trees, shrubs
and perennials. A brown lawn will turn green again once more moisture
is available. The crowns are easily damaged when the lawn is brown
so don't walk on it.
Water deeply and less often.
Fruits, Vegetables and Herbs:
Harvest, feed and water regularly. Continue sowing greens,
beans, carrots, peas…
Start to sow fall and winter crops of beets, broccoli, peas,
lettuce, spinach.
Harvest raspberries and strawberries; remove unwanted strawberry
runners; remove plants that have cropped for three summers.
Reduce the risk of late blight on tomatoes by watering with soaker
hoses so foliage doesn't get wet and cover plants in rainy weather.
Annuals:
To keep annuals flowering, clip off spent flowers
Pinch out growing tips on fuchsias to produce a bushier plant.
Remove any seedpods.
Feed every two weeks with half strength fertilizer.
Water hanging baskets and patio plants at least once a day
Roses:
Feed, water, weed and prune out faded blossoms. Mulch to
conserve water.
Renew flowering ground covers by shearing them and then fertilize
and water.
Lightly prune ramblers to control size and shape.
Pruning:
Prune summer flowering deciduous shrubs.
Prune wisteria and other vigorous vines to controls growth
and shape
Clip lavender after flowers fade.
Summer prune fruit trees.
Trim hedges.
Propagation:
Take cuttings of shrubs - camellia, weigela, buddleia…
Take cuttings of lavender, rosemary, oregano and other shrubby
herbs.
Plant out started perennials and biennials.
Plant fall blooming bulbs such as colchicum and autumn crocuses.
Compost:
Keep compost moist and turn it over regularly.
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August
Continue watering all plants well throughout dry periods.
Fruits, Vegetables and Herbs:
Harvest, feed and water regularly.
Sow fall and winter crops of beets, broccoli, peas, lettuce,
spinach.
Harvest and dry or freeze herbs.
Hill potatoes with soil or mulch
Prune tomatoes and top indeterminate (single-stemmed) varieties.
Cut raspberry canes that have fruited to the ground and tie
in new canes Discard strawberry plants that have fruited for three
year and remove excess unwanted runners.
Thin grapes.
Pruning:
Prune summer flowering deciduous shrubs.
Prune wisteria and other vigorous vines to controls growth
and shape
Clip lavender after flowers fade
Trim hedges.
Propagation:
Take cuttings of tender perennials that you wish to over
winter - pelargoniums (geraniums), fuchsias.
Collect seeds.
Plant out started perennials and biennials.
Plant fall blooming bulbs such as colchicum and autumn crocuses.
Divide perennials that flowered from spring to early summer
Plant peonies
Compost:
Keep compost moist and turn it over regularly.
Start a new pile for end of season material.
Remove fallen fruit to keep disease and pests away
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411 Village Bay Road, S1 C90
Mayne Island, BC V0N 2J0
Phone/Voice Mail: 250-539-2598
Fax: 250-539-2598
Email: trishhoff@gulfislands.com
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