Heart of Missouri
Master Gardeners

July - August Calendar

July - August - Zone 5

Vegetables

For best quality harvest vegetables in the cool of the morning or later in the evening. Avoid the heat of the day.
Home-grown tomatoes are the crop of the month. (MU Guide Sheet G6370 & G6461). Plants need regular watering. Vegetables mature quickly when the weather is hot so check the garden daily.
Harvest potatoes when the tops turn yellow and die.
Keep cukes well watered. Drought conditions will cause bitter fruit.
Sweet corn is ripe when the silks turn brown.
Late July or early August set out broccoli, cabbage, and cauliflower transplants for the fall garden. Also sow seed of collards, kale, sweet corn, summer squash, carrots, beets and turnips for the fall garden. Buy the short season varieties for best results.

Trees, Shrubs, and Fruit

Late July the early peach varieties begin to ripen. Blackberries are also beginning to ripen.
Fall bearing raspberries will begin to ripen in the middle of August.
In July apply second spray to trunks of peach trees for borers. In August sprays will be necessary to protect late peaches from the oriental fruit moth. (MU Guide Sheet G6010).
It may become necessary to cover fruit trees with netting to protect fruit from the birds
In late August cultivate strawberries. Weed preventers can be applied immediately after fertilizing. (MU Guide Sheet G6135)
Throughout the normally dry months of July and August, periodically soak shrubs to the depth of 8-10 inches.
Prune shrubs and summer blooming ornamentals in August.

Lawns

Cool season grasses may go dormant during the hot weather; but will revive as the temperatures cool. (MU Guide Sheet G6700 & G6705)
Water frequently enough to prevent wilting. Early morning watering allows turf to dry before nightfall and will help prevent disease.
Check lawns for newly hatched white grubs. If sighting this problem, take appropriate control measures. (MU Guide Sheet G7200)
GROW IT TALL - LET IT FALL ....Grass should be mowed tall and clippings returned to the lawn help produce a healthy lawn. (MU Guide Sheet G6958)
Zoysia lawns can receive their last fertilizer application in mid to late August. (MU Guide Sheet G6705)

Flowers

Iris can be divided at the end of July. This is a great opportunity to share or trade with another Iris lover who may have a particular one you have admired while driving by.
To keep a pleasing appearance to your garden remember to dead-head the annuals and perennials and remove the seed pods. Unwanted seedlings in the spring will create more work when you have the least amount of time.
Feed mums and asters and other fall blooming plants for the time.
DO NOT fertilize ROSES after mid July. (MU Guide Sheet G6600 and G6601) Most of the damage over winter occurs on the tender growth before the last frost. Climbing roses and ramblers roses can be pruned after bloom period. Continue fungicidal sprays on roses as needed.
Plant zinnia seed by July 4th for late blooming annuals.
Powdery mildew often attacks plants in late summer. Some of the common plants often attacked by the gray fungus are lilac, apple, oak, rose, phlox, dahlia, zinnia and mums. If a plant is known to have this problem, fungicidal sprays should be applied before the fungus is visibly present on the other plants.

Miscellaneous

In August hummingbirds are migrating through gardens.
Keep bird baths clean and filled with water through the hot weather.
Clean out cold frames for use in the fall.
You should be receiving fall nursery catalogues in the mail soon. Now would be the time to begin planning a new garden. So take your most comfortable lawn chair out in the garden and let your thought take seed!

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Nancy Hendrix and Sharon Young