Beverley Square West Association

In the Garden Corner Summer 2009 by Vera Julia Gordon

Sep 09, 2009

August-September ?– high summer
Yes, it is finally summer. Think of all those years in which we have lamented the lack of water; we did not think that we would be complaining about too much rain. However, in other parts of the country, gardens are parched. Because of the rain many plants have grown luxuriantly, and the mosquitoes flourist, but some plants which prefer dry conditions have not done well. Weeds have proliferated, but at least it is easier to pull them out of damp soil! Violets in the lawn are weeds and should be removed along with other weeds, and composted. Our days are appreciatively shorter, and September 22 is the Autumn Equinox with day and night of equal length. Jupiter is the brilliant planet moving across the southern sky each night.
Prune back those long wisteria whips but leave an inch or so of this year?’s growth. Prune any shrub branches that encroach or are just too high, but remember if it is a spring-flowering plant to cut with caution. Some tomatoes flowered at the time of heavy rain and did not get pollinated. If they bloom now, assist pollination with a small art paintbrush. Keep watch on your tomatoes for signs of tomato late blight, a fungus disease which shows as brown, tan, or gray blotches on leaves and/or lesions on stems. It may be possible to keep the plants going by removing the affected leaves, but it may get to the point where you have to pull up the plant and wrap it for Sanitation to remove. Do not, ever, compost any plant or leaves which show signs of any disease! If you have ripening tomatoes, save them; they are safe to eat, but some may not be of good quality. As you may have read, this fungus lives in soil and with normal hot, dry weather does not have a chance to affect plants, but this year?’s cool wet weather has given it a chance to flourish. Tomatoes in the entire Northeast are affected. It is related to the fungus which destroyed the potatoes in Ireland in the 1840s, leading to the Irish Potato Famine. There is another fungus affecting blueberry plants in Maine.
Deadhead your petunias, zinnias, marigolds, and other annuals to encourage continuing bloom. The fall catalogs are beginning to arrive, with bulbs and perennials for fall planting. Replace plants that did not do well and also consider trying something new. Some of the lilies are spectacular and very tempting. You may wish to put in chrysanthemums for fall color. Buy them locally and purchase hardy (perennial) mums which are just showing color. Plant now, so they can get rooted in, spreading the roots out when you plant, to cut the likelihood of the plants ?“heaving?” this winter. If you have mums from past years, you may wish to pinch back lightly to encourage bushing and more flowers. A light fertilizer all around would be good as the rains have leached out earlier applications.
Enjoy your late summer garden!