Our climate outlook for the first half of August is looking cooler than normal and drier than normal, according to Beth Hall, our Indiana State Climatologist. So while temperatures won’t be as high as they usually are, we can still expect our farms, gardens and lawns to be using a lot of soil moisture. We are at the height of growing season for many of our summer crops — tomatoes, zucchinis, peppers, squash and more might be coming out of your ears right now. To keep our lawns and gardens going, here are a few tips to weather the dry conditions as we go through August:
1. Make sure to water garden plants not only more frequently, but also deeply. More frequent watering will help meet the demands of your vegetables, but deep watering is key to making sure that there are some reserves leftover for future use. Frequent shallow watering can weaken root systems. Remember, gardens need about one inch of water per week to thrive.
2. Water in the morning, when it is cooler.
3. Keep the weeds at bay. Many weed species are adapted to thriving in harsh, dry environments. This means that they can easily outcompete our more delicate garden plants. Get ahead of the problem by weeding more frequently, but for less time — weeds are best controlled when they are small. A sharp weeding tool, like a scuffle hoe, can make this job easier.
4. Avoid using pesticides. Dry conditions, coupled with sunlight and heat, can cause accidental drift damage when pesticides volatilize.
5. Avoid fertilizing. Fertilizer will put additional stress on veggies as they attempt to grow rapidly with reduced water resources.
6. Add mulch (f you have not already done so). Mulching with various materials, like straw or wood, helps prevent moisture loss at the soil level.
Harvesting may slow down during this time period, as well. Part of this is due to overall plant stress during dry conditions, but also due to cooler overnight temperatures, some of which we’ve seen this week. Summer vegetables ripen more slowly with cooler overnight temps, particularly tomatoes.
These tips should help your garden continue to thrive this first, dry half of August. Before we know it, it will be time for grain harvest and fall vegetables, so enjoy these late summer moments while you can.
Ashley Adair is the Montgomery County Extension Educator, Ag and Natural Resource. The office is at 400 Parke Ave., Crawfordsville; 765-364-6363. She may be reached by email at holmes9@purdue.edu.
