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- Spring flowering trees may be pruned at this time.
Source: Trees for the San Antonio Region guide, City Public Service. - Compost around the dripline by August, if you have not already. Most people do this spring and/or fall. Keep compost and soil away from the trunk of the tree by several inches.
Source: Natural Gardener, http://www.naturalgardeneraustin.com/information/tips/august.html - Trees prefer deep, infrequent watering–a slow trickling hose for several hours or overnight about once a week to every 10 days for new trees.
Source: Natural Gardener, http://www.naturalgardeneraustin.com/information/tips/august.html - Trees less than two years in the ground need water every one to two weeks, depending on the soil, weather, and species of tree. Place a bubbler, a sprinkler, or a soaker hose at the dripline of the tree (the area on the ground–a circle–corresponding to the furthest reaches of the branches above), and water for 30 - 60 minutes or more with a low flow of water.
Source: Natural Gardener, http://www.naturalgardeneraustin.com/information/tips/august.html - Any time you water, use only sprinklers that spray the least amount of water into the air, where it is lost to evaporation. Water early in the morning or late in the evening for the same reason. In addition, the more water on the leaves, the greater the chances of fungal problems on the leaves. Even plain water on the leaves while the sun is out can also burn the leaves.
Source: Natural Gardener, http://www.naturalgardeneraustin.com/information/tips/august.html - Every home that has a gutter system also has downspouts. If these downspouts are directed into the landscape bed, heavy volumes of rainwater can saturate the soil and rot the roots of nearby trees and shrubs. To prevent this damage, use splashblocks or drainage pipes to direct the water away from landscape plants.
The TruGreen CompaniesTM, http://www.trugreen.com/tg/resourcecenter/regionalSeasonal/swSummer.dsp - By August, if you haven't done so already, be sure all bare soil is covered with mulch, or compost with mulch on top. Avoid putting mulch or compost onto plant stems. Use about three inches total wherever possible.
Source: Natural Gardener, http://www.naturalgardeneraustin.com/information/tips/august.html - Fertilize established trees, shrubs, lawn, and plants in June.
Source: Natural Gardener, http://www.naturalgardeneraustin.com/information/tips/june.html - Let the landscape rest in July. This is our least productive season for planting, except for some tough summer vegetables. Your best bet is to survive through the heat while you plan for the fall.
Source: Natural Gardener, http://www.naturalgardeneraustin.com/information/tips/july.html - Keep an eye open for insect pests and diseases
Source: The Right Tree in the Right Place http://www.righttreerightplace.com/treeCare/index.asp