August is a difficult time for most plants. Therefore, if your lawn and landscape look good in August, take a moment and pat yourself on the back. Beauty in August is a great success!

Everyone knows that August is tough because of dry, dusty heat (consider the often-used phrase “The dog days of August”). But there are other reasons that landscapes and lawns tend to look awful at this time of the year.

Fungus problems! although there are funguses which can thrive in any almost any type of weather, from winter snow mold to summer mildew, August is uniquely problematic. Consider this: On one hand, funguses which thrive in hot, humid conditions have now had three months of consistent weather in which to multiply. We’ve all seen exponential charts which show the explosion of an unchecked population. That is why funguses are more prevalent when a weather pattern remains the same for a long period of time. On the other hand, plants stressed by heat and drought are weak. Just like a human body, a plant organism will more readily succomb to a parasitic host when in a weakened state. The result is an August Collision of weak hosts and abundant diseases. What a mess!

Weed Problems! Have you ever wondered why weeds seem to do so well when other plants are struggling? Plants which thrive in this extreme weather have a special metabolic advantage, processing carbon more efficiently during high tempuratures than their competitors. In other words, tough times for some plants are actually a healthy bonanza for others. Unfortunately, the wrong ones. This leads to robust green weeds standing in stark contrast to wilting brown flowers and dormant lawn grasses…an unsightly combination for sure!

Insect Problems! Insects, like Funguses, begin each year with small populations. By August, they can be in their 4th or 5th generation. If each insect successfully passes 10 babies into the next generation (a conservative number), the population in August is potentially 10,000 times larger than it was in April. Yikes. Plants which are healthy will grow through a little insect munching, but stressed-out plants which are in “shut-down” mode easily succomb to the pressure of increased insect populations.

Flower Withdrawal! Only a few flower varieties provide color in August. April, May, and June are loaded with colorful options. Even July has the tail end of June flowers, and Annual Flower Plantings are generally in their prime. But by August, the rush is over, and the Annual Flowers often look ragged due to lack of attention. So August is often a time of yellow foliage, brown seed heads, and leggy flower plantings. ‘Nuf said.

Tired Caregivers! Last, but not least, folks are usually tired of taking care of their landscapes by the time August rolls around. Spring ambitions have given in to the delights of summer, and the looming return of school. Interest fades. Lawns go bad. Landscapes become overpowered by the abundant problems mentioned above.

With all this bad news, there is little wonder why August Landscape Success is such a difficult endeavor. Is there no solution?

Fungus Solutions:

1. Better Genetics! Use plants and lawn grasses which are bred for their resistance to fungus. This may require a “reboot” on your lawn. Or at least an overseeding.
2. Irrigate early in the morning rather than at night. Irrigate deeply every two or three days rather than shallow watering every day.
3. Plan ahead! Research has shown that heavy fall fertilizations do more to promote plant strength and energy reserves than at any other time of year. To limit problems next year, be proactive this fall.
4. Wait for the weather to change. A change in the weather pattern to cool temperatures and low humidity will do more than any other intervention to eliminate funguses.

Weed Solutions:

1. Never say die! it may look bad now, but it will only get worse if you do nothing. This year’s seed is preparing to plague next year’s lawn and landscape. Don’t give in!
2. Be proactive. Along with actively removing/spraying weeds in the landscape, plan to treat your lawn this fall. Again, research has shown that fall is the magic time for effectiveness in the lawn. It may be counter-intuitive to spray your lawn for weeds in October, but it is by far the most effective time to do so.

Insect Solutions:

1. Watch your lawn closely. As it turns green again, look for areas which have been damaged by insects. These areas may need to be reseeded. Remember, Fall is the magic time for lawns, and overseeding in early September is an excellent plan.
2. Plan ahead! If you had insect problems this year, sign up for insect control next summer. There are two kinds of insects which severely damage lawns, beetle grubs, and surface feeding insects. These two types of insect problems require two types of insect control, so know your lawn, and sign up for the proper remedy.
3. If you are not irrigated, consider the benefits of irrigation, as it can keep you lawn healthy enough to withstand an insect infestation. An irrigated lawn also reveals the effected areas more quickly than a brown, dormant lawn, where insect damage can go unnoticed until the lawn greens up in the fall.

Flower Recovery:

1. Genetics! Choose plants which flower well in August.
2. Take care of them! There are no “care-free” flowers in August. All will require some amount of water, pruning, or fertilization to look nice. Consider the energy spent in July and early August to be an investment in August Beauty. You can be successful!

Tired Caregiver Solutions:

1. Genetics! Hire someone with a green thumb.
2. or man up!

Of course, we think Paragon is a great solution (260-627-8342) We would be glad to help your landscape look better all year long, whether you need full service, or help with the majors on a one-time basis. Success is best when it is a team effort!

On toward Excellence!