Pause for a pollinator safety moment
Among the three things pollinators need – water, shelter and nourishing plants – water is often the least common in our yards. While the sprinkler system sprays the lawn and drips water around plants, it won’t provide a good place to get a drink. Even standard birdbaths provide a slippery slope where thirsty bees often loose their footing and drown trying to get a drink of water.
Here’s what you can do:
* If you have a standard birdbath with steep sides, add some small rocks that stand slightly above the water line as a perch.
* If you have a pond or water feature, create places with very gentle slopes where bees can plant their feet without sliding into the water.
* Make your own simple watering place by filling a pie plate with marbles. Add water so that the water level sits below the top of the marbles. Bees or birds can perch on the marbles while they drink.
* Look for birdbaths with gently sloped sides and that are highly textured to provide traction.
* Finally, rinse and refill the water several times per week.
Butterflies like puddles!
Unlike other pollinators, butterflies are attracted to muddy pools for the salt and nutrients they provide. If you want to offer them a nice watering hole, create a sunny dip in the soil where the sprinklers run to give them a puddle.
August Quick Gardening Tips
*Last month to fertilize roses. Get this done by August 15th.
*Powdery mildew can be a problem for roses, lilacs, columbine, asters, and turf. Restrict late day overhead watering by watering before noon to allow plant material to dry out.
*Weed your garden frequently. Watch to see that weeds do not grow so large that they drop seeds!!
*Add some mulch to trees and shrubs beds. Mulch reduces evaporation from the soil into the air and keeps the soil slightly cooler
Lawns
As we move into August our hot and dry conditions here in Colorado continue which in turn challenges us with keeping our lawns looking green, weed free and healthy. Lawns that suffer drought stress risk having broadleaf weeds, grassy weeds, and disease and insect pressures. Pay particular attention to areas in full sun, or on south or western facing slopes.
What are signs of a drought stressed lawn?
*Wilting appearance which will often show up in the same location
*Footprints or lawn mower tracts that remain in the lawn at least one-half hour after the mowing
*The turf is turning a shade of blue grey
*Brown spots/areas
What can you do to prevent drought stress?
*If you have a sprinkler system, make sure the heads are properly operating and are providing adequate coverage.
Sometimes heads can get out of alignment, become clogged or even possibly be broken.
*Water our lawn between 10 pm-6 am this is the period when it is typically cooler, less windy and the humidity is higher so evaporation losses are less.
*For brown spot areas extra watering can be beneficial in recovery