Show #99 - What NOT to Do in Your Garden: Trimming, Insects, and Weed Control Mistakes to Avoid

What NOT to Do in Your Garden: Late Summer Mistakes to Avoid

Gardening success isn’t just about knowing what to do—it’s about knowing what not to do. Late summer is a critical season where the wrong move can cost you next year’s flowers, ruin your lawn, or make insect and weed problems worse. At Betty’s Azalea Ranch, we’re here to help you avoid the most common mistakes.

Stop Trimming After August 10th

By August 10th, most plants have already set their flower buds for next spring. If you trim now, you’re cutting off next year’s blooms.

• Don’t trim Azaleas, Forsythia, or other spring bloomers—you’ll lose their flowers.
• If you see neighborhood crews pruning shrubs in August, they’re making a big mistake.
• You may cut away runaway shoots outside the natural halo of a shrub, but do not cut into the main body of the plant.
• Deadheading is always fine—remove spent flowers from Rhododendron, Hydrangea, Peony, or perennials.
• Deciduous trees can be limbed up, but do not prune Dogwood or Redbud now.

Rule to Remember: August = flower bud season. Pruning now = no blooms in spring

Late Summer = Peak Insect Problems

This is the maximum insect season of the year, and ignoring it can lead to major plant stress. Watch for:

• Lace Bug on Azaleas
• Japanese Beetles on Roses, Laurels, Flowering Cherries, and Japanese Maples
• Spotted Lanternfly on a wide range of plants
• Spider Mites on Dwarf Alberta Spruce, Burning Bush, and other dense plants

Treatment Tips:

• Mix 3 oz Bug Blaster II + 4 oz Wilt-Pruf per gallon of water and spray sunny areas.
• Always spray the underside of leaves—that’s where pests hide.
• In vegetable gardens, mix 5 oz Wilt-Pruf + 3 oz Spinosad per gallon of water. Cover vines top and bottom to protect crops like zucchini from borers and parasitic wasps.
• Do NOT spray blue foliage (Blue Spruce, Blue Hosta, etc.).

Weed Control: Timing Is Everything

Weeds are like dogs—the little ones bite hardest. Late summer is a huge weed season, and one villain stands out: Creeping Spotted Spurge.

• Small, red-stemmed, flat-growing weed that spreads in thick circles.
• Reproduces in just 3 days—making it a nightmare in lawns and mulch beds.
• Control with 1.5 oz Weed Free Zone + 1 oz Wilt-Pruf per gallon of water.

Broadleaf Weed Control

• Fertilome’s Weed Free Zone kills clover, dandelion, spurge, poison ivy, and 200+ other broadleaf weeds.
• Gallery prevents broadleaf weeds before they emerge.
• For poison ivy exposure, use Zanfel for immediate relief.

Grassy Weed Control

• Crabgrass (lime-green blades at lawn edges).
• Nutsedge (glossy green blades that grow fast after mowing).
• Treat with 4 oz Image All-In-One + 1 oz Wilt-Pruf per gallon of warm water.

Zombie Weeds: The Toughest Family

Not all weeds fit the broadleaf or grassy category. Some—like Stilt Grass, Wire/Bermuda Grass, and Poa Trivialis—require special identification and selective herbicides. Generic sprays from box stores won’t touch them.

Step one is always correct weed ID. Without it, treatments won’t work.

Key Gardening DON’Ts for August

• Don’t trim ornamental plants after August 10th—buds are already set.
• Don’t ignore insect outbreaks—this is the peak season.
• Don’t use the wrong spray—always match insecticide or herbicide to the pest.
• Don’t let weeds get established—prevent with Gallery, treat with Weed Free Zone or Image All-In-One.
• Don’t guess at zombie weeds—get them identified at Betty’s for the right treatment plan.

By avoiding these late-summer mistakes, you’ll protect your spring blooms, keep insects under control, and stop weeds before they take over. At Betty’s Azalea Ranch, we’ll help you identify problems early and choose the right products for lasting success.