Twigs from my garden

So you're feeling a little guilty about your garden? You say, the weeds are getting out of control and you just want to take a siesta with a good book and a glass of lemonade? That feeling to get away from the garden and escape to Canada is natural. I'm not listing garden chores for August just to make you feel guiltier. Think of this "to do" list as a simpler "get ‘er done" list. Just do the chores you want to do, one at a time, as best you can. I mean you've got the rest of August. I've also thrown in some trivia to inspire you and for a little educatin' as Andy Griffith might say!
Slow the Mow. While reel mowers and electric or battery-powered mowers are the best choice environmentally for mowing, gas-powered mowers do produce less emissions than they did 15 years ago - now only hour for hour the same emissions as 11 cars, and a riding mower only as much as 14 cars. Ouch! Mow three inches high, and as infrequently as possible during August. Your grass goes dormant when the weather is hot and dry and doesn't need any more stress. Neither do you.
Stop Pruning. Pruning should not resume until the leaves drop. Since pruning stimulates new growth, continuing to prune at this point in the growing season will push growth that may not have a chance to harden off before winter. Put your energy into deadheading perennials and annual flowers.
You Say Tomatoes ... Tomatoes that are vine-ripened are higher in vitamin C than greenhouse tomatoes. Fresh tomatoes contain more vitamin C than those that are processed or cooked. Enjoy!
Deadhead Lilies. As soon as lily flowers (true lilies, not daylilies) are finished blooming, cut the lily stalk back by about one-third. This allows enough leaves to remain for plant health, but takes away the awkward stalk that usually sticks above everything else.
Harvest "Them" Herbs! Don't forget to harvest and dry herbs through the summer instead of waiting until fall. Most herbs taste best if picked before they bloom, but if they are flowering now, simply cut off the flower heads and dry the leaves. A cool oven, paper bag in the closet or food dehydrator all work quite well.
Nose Twist? In Latin nasturtium literally means "nose twist" because of its peppery taste. Nasturtium's tender leaves are also edible. Nasturtiums should be more popular because their colorful flowers not only dress up a plate, but are high in vitamins A, C (10 times as much as lettuce) and D.
Beetles Beware! Watch out for the siege from metallic green-bronze Japanese beetles. You will usually see them in clusters or pairs on the upper sides of leaves on plants in the sun. They chew leaves until they are lacy, so you can't miss their destruction. Control them by handpicking and dropping into a container of soapy water.
Defining Edge. For the simplest edging between garden and lawn, use a flat-bladed spade, power edger or half-moon edging tool to create a narrow, V-shaped trough to define the space. Crisp, clean edging creates a manicured look. A softer transition, on the other hand, lends an informal, cottage look.
Water On! Ideally, this should be the first garden task you should do any morning it hasn't recently rained. Put your finger or a stick into the ground or planted pot a couple of inches. If the soil is dry, you need to water well.
War on Weeds. Keep after your weeds. Put on the mosquito repellent, if necessary, and after watering, weed, so developing vegetables and flowers will not have to compete with weeds. They take away moisture and nutrients that desirable plants need.
Slug-o! Our native slugs are not garden pests. They consume decayed material, fertilize with rich wastes, and disperse seeds and spores. It is non-native slugs that are our enemies, especially to our hostas.
Now, you've done enough gardening for today just by reading this column. Pour yourself that lemonade!
Event
From 12:15 to 12:45 p.m. Tuesday, Barb Shafer will talk about "Grasses." This program, free and open to the public as part of the Brown Bag Series, is in the gazebo at the Allen County Children's Garden behind the museum on West Market Street, Lima. Bring your lawn chair and lunch and enjoy the talk, as well as the garden.
Master Gardener Tip of the Week
A recent study finds that air pollution has a detrimental effect on the scent of flowers by impeding the smell from traveling as far to attract pollinators - another reason we must take steps to purify our air.