Everyone remembers it. The first time you got behind the wheel of a car and mom or dad said, “Put the key in the ignition.”

It’s slightly terrifying, right?

Most of us have been through this experience, either as the teacher or the pupil. If you have kids, you know that being the teacher can sometimes be even scarier than being the student. It can be nerve wracking while opening up a whole new world at the same time. As the teacher you hold your breath, say a prayer and hang on.

When I was teaching my son to drive it struck me that learning to garden is a lot like learning to drive. It can be stressful when you’re first learning. It’s a new skill set and one which many times these days, hasn’t been handed down generation to generation. It takes a lot of practice to do it well. It doesn’t always turn out the way you expect it will. And no matter how careful you think you are being, sometimes you goof.

All of that being said, we’re into what I call the “August doldrums.” Aside from being the only month that does not contain a holiday, it’s also the time of the year when, because of the heat alone, you may be questioning your sanity as a gardener. As a new gardener, you may still be learning and may not have a great crop. Because of the summer weather, seasoned gardeners may not be getting the yield they expected. Or some of your veggies may have cross pollinated and morphed into something new and unrecognizable as my squash seem to do each summer. Or, if you planted zucchini for instance, you may be overwhelmed and wondering what to do with your bountiful harvest!

But when gardening is like learning to drive and you need some skill sets and some practice, here are the tips and tricks to keep your garden looking its best and producing well into the fall.

First, realize that everything has taken a beating from the heat, especially in June. It was early in our growing season, and don’t beat yourself up if something didn’t survive. If they survived but haven’t been thriving, don’t panic. Plants will start to perk up again once the weather begins to cool down. Water early in the morning so the plants have a chance to absorb the moisture before the heat of the day hits. If you’ve been to the mountains, use the leftover ice from your cooler to water your plants. As the ice melts, it acts just like a slow drip system for your plants. Adding a layer of mulch to your beds and garden will help to keep the weeds down, keep the temperature of the soil lower and help retain moisture between waterings.

Keep fertilizing and watering annuals and perennials to keep plants looking their best. The fertilizer will help to keep them growing well into the fall. As always follow the directions on the fertilizer package , but generally apply every 10 days to two weeks for best performance. An application of fertilizer will produce lush, green growth and help produce higher yields.

Fertilize trees and shrubs for the last time this season. Trees and shrubs should be fertilized in April, June and early August for optimal growth over the course of the season. You don’t want to fertilize much after early to mid August for good reason. As the days begin to shorten, your trees and shrubs will starting to prepare for dormancy over the winter. By fertilizing them you are sending the message that it’s time to grow, when, by nature, they are preparing to shut down their growth for winter. Don’t confuse them!

It’s also a great time to plant a tree. The more plants that are in your yard, the greater the cooling effect will be. Plants have a natural cooling mechanism called transpiration which works on the same principle as evaporative coolers in our homes. Water is taken by the roots and expelled through pores in the leaves. The evaporation of this water causes a cooling effect for the plant and also for the surrounding air space. Trees also provide cooling shade so plant away!

Check your vegetable garden daily for things that are ripe or ready to pick. If you find you have an overabundance, share your bounty with friends, co-workers, neighbors, a food bank, the local soup kitchen, or donate it to a senior center or home. Start a sharing table at work or at your church. There are many people and places that welcome fresh vegetables that otherwise would not have access to them.

Deadhead salvia, daylilies, veronicas, geraniums, and other annuals and perennials to keep them looking their best and re-blooming through the rest of the summer. Even more so now than in the past, many varieties have been hybridized to re-bloom and can put on quite a show late in the season with a little attention now.

Watch for bugs of all kinds and treat them as soon as they appear. With the warm winter and the wet spring, it’s been a bad year for bugs and they are everywhere. Treat with a good, general insecticide like carbaryl, or Capt’n Jacks if you prefer an organic solution.

It’s also time to begin thinking about planting your cool season vegetables for harvest this fall. Lettuce, spinach, radishes, broccoli and other vegetables will do well when started now and grown into the fall.

We don’t want gardening to be stressful, but please realize that like driving, it does take some time to learn to do it well and develop your skills, and also like with driving, accidents happen. If your garden turned out differently than you expected, take heart and try again next year. Gardening is definitely a challenge for our area, but in many ways it’s also the best part of the gardener’s year- when you can share the harvest, (especially with zucchini!) with all those you know!

Gail Vanik can be reached at Four Seasons Greenhouse and Nursery at 565-8274 or by email at “[email protected].”