Also, don't give up on some of those perennials that have already bloomed. Many of our early summer perennials are more than capable of a second bloom if you help them. Remember that plants bloom to reproduce, and if you take that away it is natural for some of them to go for it again! I cut back the young salvia that was pretty much done last week, and they already have new buds and flowers. A little sheering/feeding and presto, new growth and flowers! If you're not sure which ones can be successfully re-charged, just come in and see us.

 P.S. Boy am I glad that road construction is finally over!!!!

They are typically July-August bloomers although a few bloom later than this. If grown in good rich soil, this plant will quickly turn into a three to four foot tall bush every spring (dying to the ground over winter). The flowers will also be amazingly large at six inches across.

I have grown this plant in sand and clay and have abused it terribly, it survives almost every kind of soil although it doesn't bloom well when drought strikes.

They are usually pruned to the ground in the fall and re-grow (starting as one of the last perennials to emerge) each spring.

To keep New Guinea Impatiens from wilting in hot weather, place shallow saucers under 8 and 10 inch containers.  Water the plants daily with enough water to fill the saucer to overflowing.  During the day the roots will take an extra drink as needed, and the saucer will be dry by nightfall.

Each time you feed impatiens, select the two longest shoots on opposite sides of the plant.  Cut off two-thirds of their length.  The plants will remain full, well branched and bushy.  When an impatiens wilts from too much heat, sun, or dryness, don't despair.  Plunge the entire container up to the stems of the plant in a bucket of water.  Come back in half an hour; the plant will have recovered.

Summer is still with us, and your garden may be looking a bit stressed due to the dry heat and warm winds that are a regular weather condition in our region. There are a few things that you can do to help with the stress as we move into August. One is to feed your perennials, roses, and other flowering shrubs for the last time this season. It is also important to provide temporary shade for the few weeks of extreme temperatures.

The Last Supper - Feed Them Now For Wintering Over  

Now is the last time you should fertilize your roses, perennials, and blooming shrubs. Once the middle to the end of August arrives, your garden will start the process of heading into dormancy. This is a very important part of a plant's life; the more energy it has stored in the root system, the healthier your plant will be next season. Hold off on fertilizing anything you plant or transplant at this time of the year. Your main concern is to keep them comfortable without forcing too much growth.  Most perennials are perfectly fine heading into winter dormancy without fertilizer, but will benefit from a generous amount of an organic amendments for healthy root development.   

Providing Temporary Shade

For those times when the heat won't give your garden plants a break, providing temporary shade can make a huge difference in your perennials long term health. For those quick fixes, there are household items that may do the trick for a day or two. For the long term, investigate planting a tree or large shrub to keep your plants cool in the hot days of August. Tomatoes can struggle in the heat so since most have a cage already in place, attach a sheet for shade in the afternoon. You can also create a moist environment by wetting the sheet down daily.

Our Ultra Bloom is formulated without nitrogen to aid in the development of flower and fruit buds. Ultra Bloom also helps plants resist diseases and cold weather damage. Although it may be used on all plants throughout the year, it is especially recommended for Azaleas, Camellias and Rhodenderons when flower buds begin to form in late summer, fall and winter.

Ultra Bloom is blended with humic acid and beneficial soil microbes including mycorrhizae.