Outdoor To-Dos for August

1. Watering: This can be the biggest task of the month, especially when the weather is extra hot. Practice not only thorough watering, but also deep watering to make sure the water is making it to the root systems of your plants and grass. Don’t forget to keep an eye on your container and hanging plants as well. Push your fingers down an inch or so into the soil to make sure they have adequate moisture. For tips on when and how often you should be watering, visit our Soak It All In article.
   
   

2. Clean Patio Items: With all the fun in the sun you’re having this summer, your patio and outdoor activity items could probably use a thorough cleaning. Give everything a good wipe down with a strong cleaner and maintain the clean by hosing down items on a weekly basis. Fabric items like patio umbrellas and cushions have many folds and creases, creating the potential havens for mold and mildew. If they haven’t been cleaned in awhile, use a stiff scrub brush and mild soap to wash away a summer’s worth of dirt.
   
   
3. Grill Check: If you’ve been taking advantage of almost every beautiful summer evening to grill out with family and friends, no doubt your grill is showing some signs of use by now. Reward it with a spotless clean from top to bottom, with expert painting and cleaning tips for gas and charcoal grills from this Style and Savings for Outdoors article.
   
   
4. Pruning: Take some time to groom plants and shrubs by removing spent flowers, wilting leaves and dying branches throughout the month. This will not only help with the overall look of your lawn and garden, but will also keep plants from going into seed production too soon so you can enjoy flowers through the end of summer.
   
   
5. Refresh Birdbaths: If you have a birdbath in your outdoor spaces, look out for your feathered friends by changing water regularly and keeping it full. Old, standing water can be a breeding ground for mosquitoes, so keeping it clean will also help make your landscaping design more inviting.
   
   
6. Driveways and Patios: Even though they serve a functional purpose, these outdoor spaces are still part of the overall look of your landscaping design. Sweep and hose down driveways and patios regularly, and pull any weeds and excess lawn or plant growth from around them.
   
   
7. Lawn Care: During the hot, dry month of August raise the blade of your lawn mower 1/2”. Keeping your lawn a little bit higher will actually shade your soil and help it retain moisture. It also allows grass to grow deeper, cooling the fragile roots and protecting them from potentially scorching heat.
   
   
8. Garden Harvest: When it comes to vegetable gardens, early spring may get all of the glory, but late summer is the recommended time to plant hearty, vitamin-rich vegetables like carrots, spinach, peas, leeks, and green onions. Delicious herbs such as dill, cilantro, arugula, and parsley are also good choices, as are more robust greens like kale and chard. Pay attention to late summer temperatures, as excess heat could shock young seedlings. A shade or simple coverings should help your garden with this issue, giving you a fresh bumper crop just in time for next season’s soups, salads, and sides.

With these simple gardening, cleaning and upkeep jobs checked off the list, you’ll be able to continue enjoying your outdoor spaces throughout the end of the summer season and beyond.