National Sneak Some Zucchini Onto Your Neighbor’s Porch Night

August 8th is National Sneak Some Zucchini Onto Your Neighbor’s Porch Night! Especially in this most unusual of years, we all need a gardening tradition that we can celebrate; ‘just because’.

Annuals

Annuals, particularly those in containers, need additional fertilizer throughout the summer. If you are using a slow-release fertilizer (as many potting mixes do), check the container to see how long it should last - usually three to six months. If you planted in early May with a three-month fertilizer, you will need to add more by late July. Some gardeners prefer to apply a diluted liquid fertilizer to containers in order to ensure that the heavy feeders get all they need without overdosing the plants that like a leaner diet.

Shear joy

If your annual blooms are slowing down, or the plants are getting overgrown or scraggly, give them a hard shearing to encourage new growth and new flowers. A shearing just before you leave on vacation should mean you come home to lush new growth - if you have a faithful waterer tending the pots.