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August 6, 2002
Weeding and watering will benefit your garden throughout the growing season. August is not the time to give up on these activities, says horticulturist Deb Brown of the University of Minnesota Extension Service.
"Keeping after garden weeds is as important in August as it was earlier in the summer," says Brown. "Weeds compete with desired plants for moisture and nutrients. Weeds may also harbor insects that feed on desired plants, causing injury and possibly spreading plant disease. And seeds from weeds will remain viable in the soil, ready to sprout, for years to come."
Brown says it's ok to incorporate weeds into a compost pile if they're not full of seeds. But if they're loaded with seeds, you probably shouldn't put them in the compost unless it's a good, active pile that heats up well. Otherwise, when you use your compost you'll inadvertently spread the weed seeds.
It's also important to provide a steady moisture supply to developing plants, especially in hot weather. "Uneven moisture is responsible for blossom end rot, a common malady of tomatoes and sometimes squash," says Brown. "Inadequate moisture also causes knobby potatoes. And it may cause carrots and cucumbers to taste bitter."
Brown recommends watering early in the day, when temperatures are coolest. This will result in less water loss through evaporation.
"Sprinkling plants from above in the evening isn't a good idea," says Brown. "When foliage is wet at night, it often won't dry until the next morning. This creates an ideal environment for plant diseases. On the other hand, if evening is the only time you can water, it's better than nothing."
Some gardeners use oozing hoses that allow water to seep into the soil, or trickle irrigation that directs water to the base of each plant. With these strategies, timing isn't so critical, says Brown.
The University's Yard and Garden Clinic has experts to answer questions on gardening, plant care and insects between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. weekdays. Call (612) 624-4771 in the metro area or (888) 624-4771 from outside the metro area. There is a $5 fee, which can be billed to a major credit card.
The clinic is one of the services available through Yard and Garden Line. Also available are free recorded messages 24 hours a day from Info-U. And at no charge, callers can request a return call from a Master Gardener volunteer in their county.
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Source: Deb Brown, (612) 624-7491
Editor: Joseph Kurtz, (612) 625-3168, jk@umn.edu
NOTE: News releases were current as of the date of issue. If you have a question on older releases, use the news release search (upper left-hand column of the News main page) or the main Extension search (upper right of this page) to locate more recent information.
