We are just around the corner from fall and the calls have been coming in on how to prepare things in both the vegetable and flower garden. Two problems we often see are people getting too ambitious and starting gardens too early or on the other hand people getting lazy and waiting to start fall projects too late.

Now is the pivotal time to start for fall and make sure you have finished projects from the spring. Here are a few questions about timing gardening projects.

Q: When should I begin planting things in my fall garden?

A: The end of August is the time to start those fall vegetable gardens. Cabbage, beets, broccoli, cauliflower and kohlrabi seed should be sown in the garden toward the end of this month. Collards and kale are more tolerant of high temperatures but the heat will tend to make the leaves taste bitter.

If you like spinach, try planting it this fall instead of in the spring. The biggest problem is getting the seed to come up. It should be planted at about a half inch and never allowed to dry out for an entire week. The best germination happens at soil temperatures about 70 degrees.

The end of August is sweet potato digging time. Carefully dig up the roots of a vine or two to see if the tuber size suits you. Try not to scrape the skin while digging up your potatoes.

Q: Can I still prune my azaleas?

A: If you have not already done so, now is the time to finish pruning spring and early summer flowering shrubs. Remember by waiting too long to prune spring and summer flowering shrubs you will cut off next year’s buds once they begin to form.

To prevent hedges from thinning out, always prune so that the base is slightly wider than the top (pyramid shape). This stops the lower part of the hedge from being shaded and losing its leaves. Do not prune fall flowering shrubs such as camellias because their flower buds for fall and winter are already set.

Q: Why do my gardenia leaves turn yellow every year?

A: Gardenias are very fragile plants and cause trouble even for experienced gardeners. The yellowing of leaves is one of the most common problems faced by homeowners. This can happen whether you keep your plants indoors or outdoors year round. This is likely a sign of chlorosis which basically means the plant doesn’t have enough chlorophyll. This can be caused by poor drainage, root problems, pH too high, or not enough nutrients from the soil, or a combination of all of these.

The most common problem in our area is likely poor drainage. For indoor plants never let them sit in pots with standing water and for outdoor plants try to amend clay soils with a mixture of sand and peat moss to increase drainage. If soil cannot be amended, moving to a new location may be needed.

Another common problem could be as simple as the soil lacking important nutrients. Gardenias require a pH between 5.0 and 6.5. The effects of soil pH level on plants will cause it to not be able to absorb minerals like iron, nitrogen, manganese or zinc. This mineral deficiency is one of the major causes of chlorosis in plants. To determine pH a soil test should be conducted. Adding iron or magnesium supplements to the soil can have positive impacts and often will help this problem.

David Carter is the director of the Adams County Extension Service. He can be reached at 601-445-8201.