Order bulbs now for fall planting, spring flowers
I like to order bulbs early for fall planting to make sure I can get the specific ones that I want for my garden. August is a good time to plan for and order spring-flowering bulbs for your garden.
The soil in a bulb garden should be well drained. Any area in the garden that remains wet for long periods of time — or has standing water for any length of time — is unsuitable for bulbs. They prefer moisture in spring and fall and dry out in the summer. Most prefer growing in full sun.
When planted beneath a high-branching tree, early-flowering bulbs will bloom before tree leaves develop and will have only light shade in summer as they store energy for blooming the following year.
Daffodils, ornamental onions, snowdrops and winter aconite are recommended for areas where deer and rabbits browse.
Rainfall has been relatively consistent so far this summer, so my lawn is still green and growing. I have been able to skip mowing a couple times during recent hot spells to give the lawn a rest and save some time. It is a good idea to monitor and provide supplemental water to plants installed over the last three years as needed instead of relying on rainfall. Older, more established trees and shrubs will most likely be just fine.
Make sure that the root balls of evergreen trees planted within the last year or two are thoroughly moistened when watering. Densely branched evergreen trees can shed water away from the root ball so that it remains dry even when the soil in the bed is moist. Apply water to the base of these trees.
Most lawns were still green at the end of July. If August turns hot and dry, they will go dormant and turn brown without supplemental water. They will green up in fall with cooler weather and rain.
During the first week of August, plant short-season snap beans, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, carrots, mustard greens, spinach, and radishes for harvesting in fall. Continue to harvest herbs by either snipping foliage, drying entire sprigs or plants, or freezing individual portions in ice cube trays. Pinch off developing flowers to retain essential oils and flavor in the plants’ foliage.
Bindweed — a vining weed with white flowers — has invaded one of my borders at home. Eradicating this weed takes persistence and continual removal as you see it. I have not been doing this and have a big mess now to contend with in getting rid of it. This weed wraps around other plants, and you can cause damage to them if you are not careful in how you remove the bindweed. Proceed with caution!
• Tim Johnson is director of horticulture at Chicago Botanic Garden, chicagobotanic.org.