While August is not the best time to be outside working, you can plant seeds of corn, pumpkins, cauliflower, beans, carrots, cucumbers and winter squash.
Chlorosis is an iron deficiency which shows up on many plants and trees in hot weather. Too wet or too dry soils, not watering deeply enough, and salty or caliche soils that limit iron uptake can cause this. Leaves turn yellow (with green veins) and appears first on new growth. If not alleviated, leaves turn yellow, then white and then brown as tissues die. Apply iron chelate according to directions.
To help roses prepare for fall bloom, acidify soil with a soluble sulfur like DisperSul, and a complete fertilizer, and apply iron chelate if needed to correct chlorosis. Be sure to water everything in thoroughly. Acid loving palms are also susceptible to iron chlorosis. Treat with DisperSul, Ironite or gypsum and fertilize with a good palm food.
Some gardening experts advise pruning peppers and tomatoes if they have survived the heat, to encourage a fall crop. Cut back tomatoes by about a third, and lightly prune peppers. If they didn't make it, it will soon be time to plant again for a fall crop. After pruning, protect both tomatoes and peppers with shade cloth to prevent sunburn on newly exposed stems. You may want to try to root the cuttings from your tomatoes and peppers. I have had good luck with rooting the suckers from tomatoes, they just seem to take off.
To help prevent fruit split on tomatoes, citrus, melons, pomegranates, which may happen during the heavy rains at this time of year, keep roots evenly moist. Fruit split occurs when the skin of fruit is too dry and the skin can't absorb all the moisture of the rains.
Sow Annuals: Plant them now so they will have time to grow strong roots - they will slow down during the winter and burst into bloom in warmer weather. Some perennials sown now may bloom next year. Don't forget to gather seeds of those perennials and annuals that you want to share or plant. There are several places on the internet for trading of seeds and several email lists devoted to it.
Chrysanthemums should be available sometime later this month and early next month for fall bloom. Pinch the tips of established ones monthly until Labor Day for best bloom.
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