Glorious summer weather, the kind we wish we could put into a box and save for a cold January day, is great weather for our gardens.   Here are a few gardening tips to keep our gardens growing in late August.  

• Harvest fruits and vegetables regularly to prevent rotting and attracting picnic beetles or wasps. 
• Continue to provide regular weeding and watering to your garden.  If you allow weeds to thrive they can harbor insects and they'll drop tons of seeds for weeds in years to come.
• Allow tomatoes to vine ripen for best flavor.  if you must pick them partially ripe, ripen them out of direct sunlight.  Refrigerating tomatoes interrupts and limits their flavor development.
• Remove any plants that are stunted, or have deformed flowers or mosaic patterns on their foliage.  They may be diseased and shouldn't stay in or near your garden.
• Divide and transplant iris now.  It is a great time to divide spring blooming perennials.  Perennials that bloom mid to late summer are usually divided in spring.
• Stop fertilizing roses and perennials.  They need to "harden off" and prepare for winter so we don't want to encourage any continued growth at this time.
• The best time to plant new grass seed is mid-August through late-September.
• Learn more at http://www.forthfloral.com