A Few August Tips for the Home Gardner

Cut back faded annual flowers by half, then water and lightly fertilize with liquid 20-20-20 or equivalent. A second season of blooms will begin to appear in two weeks.

Collect seeds from hosta, iris and blackberry lily to save for planting next spring.

Remove faded crape myrtle blooms and dry seed clusters now. With a little water and fertilizer, you may get more blooms in September.

Fertilize roses with 1 tablespoon of 10-10-10 per foot of height now to stimulate some new growth. As the weather cools, you’ll get roses for the fall.