Sandy Spring Gardener - Glorious Summer Gardens
The Sandy Spring Horticultural Society has been meeting continuously (April to October) since 1863 as documented in the Sandy Spring Museum Digital archives. At each meeting we read the minutes from 100 years ago. The meeting minutes from August 1925 note: “the meeting was held at The Maples, the home of our secretary (Mary Reading Nichols). She was excused that day from writing the minutes and Marianna Miller reluctantly consented to serve in her place.
After the reading and adoption of the minutes from the previous meeting, Cornelia Bentley read from House Beautiful (first published in 1896), an interesting article on the cultivation of Columbine and Phlox, two perennials if properly cared for give great pleasure and satisfaction. M.H. Barcroft as the other reader, told us of the “Worth of the Nut Tree.” The planting of that can be compared to the purchasing of a good investment that in the course of time will yield a large income while also being useful for shade and ornament as well. Pecan and Black and English walnut can be raised in this latitude and are recommended. The Stabler English Walnut, as it is grown at Sunnyside, is the latest in the United States to put out in the spring and is not caught by the frost.”
The Forethought (what needs to be done in the garden this month), “called our attention, among other things, to this being a good time to trim shade trees, plant peas, beets and beans for a fall garden, top dress winter roots and plough unused ground to keep down the weeks.”
In Sandy Spring, August can be a hot and humid month, but it’s also a great time when gardeners can make the most of the summer’s bounty while preparing for the cooler months ahead. Here are five recommended gardening tasks for the month.
Watering and Mulching: It’s important to keep plants well-watered. Early morning or late evening is the best time to water to prevent evaporation. Focus on deep watering to encourage roots to grow deeper into the soil. Additionally, consider replenishing mulch around your plants to help retain moisture, suppress weeds, and regulate soil temperature.
Harvesting and Pruning: August is prime harvest time for many summer vegetables and fruits. If you have tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, beans, or squash, make sure to pick them regularly to encourage continued production. Similarly, fruit trees like apples, peaches, and berries might also be ready to pick. For flowering plants that have finished blooming, like roses or hydrangeas, prune dead or spent flowers to maintain plant health and encourage a second bloom. Deadheading annuals like petunias or marigolds can also help them last longer into the season.
Preparing for Fall Planting: As the weather begins to cool, it’s a good time to think ahead to the fall garden. You can start preparing beds for fall crops such as kale, spinach, and broccoli, or plant fall flowers like mums and asters. For some vegetables, like carrots and beets, you can directly sow seeds now for a late-season harvest. If you want to grow leafy greens in cooler months, consider planting them in areas that get a little afternoon shade to protect them from the lingering heat.
Soil Care and Fertilizing: With the heavy growing season behind us, it's essential to refresh the soil. Consider applying compost or well-rotted manure to enrich the soil and boost plant health. If you're still growing summer vegetables, you may want to feed them with a balanced fertilizer to keep them strong and productive.
Weed Control and Pest Management: August is prime time for weeds to go to seed, so stay on top of pulling them before they spread. You may also notice pests like aphids, caterpillars, or Japanese beetles making their rounds. Use organic pest control methods, like neem oil or insecticidal soap, and encourage beneficial insects like ladybugs to help manage pests naturally.
Questions. Back to the August 1925 meeting minutes we return to questions: “A new white beetle has attacked Dr. Nichols’s potatoes, but as it was a stranger to most of us, no one could help him name it. Should you trim blackberries that have sent up long canes. Yes, you should trim the ends. What cause the leaves of young apple tree (that have been set out this spring) to curl? Probably a spider at work on them--try spraying with Pyrox (herbicide). Several members had noticed that the foliage on different kinds of trees and plants did not appear heathy. It was the opinion of most that that it was due to weather conditions this year.”
“The Assistant Secretary’s list of exhibits included various fine displays, the one from Norwood deserving special mention for its attractive arrangement. One member brought a specimen of the Russian Giant Sweet Corn. Surely it deserves its name as far as height is concerned, but most did not consider it very sweet.”
“When we turned our steps toward the garden, we saw it growing in its full glory, together with much that will make gardening at The Maples easier for months to come. As we stood on the terrace and looked down on the garden, with the hillside beyond covered with its vines and fruit trees, we needed no other proof than that to tell us that real horticulturalists lived here. A beautiful flock of Plymouth Rock chickens (dual purpose breed for eggs and meat) also claimed our attention, as did, on our return to the house, a most delicious supper.”
Enjoy your glorious summer garden!
“A garden is like the self. It has so many layers and winding paths, real or imagined, that it can never be known completely, even by the most intimate of friends.”
Anne Raver, Contemporary American Garden Writer.