August in the Garden

Planting

August is a transition month here in north Texas. We are cleaning up the garden to prep for fall planting, but we also want to continue planting beautiful color that will carry us into the cooler months. The plants listed are just a few of the wonderful specimens that continue to arrive through August. Looking for something specific? Give us a call or check our This Just In page.

Plant Fall-flowering bulbs such as surprise lilies (Lycoris sp.) and fall crocus.

Plant fall annuals such as marigold, zinnia, celosia, sweet potato vine, coleus, snapdragons and lantana. Petunias arrive mid-August. 

Plant perennials such as Copper Canyon Daisy, Mexican bush sage, fall asters and especially salvias. Salvias such as Texas sage, mealycup sage,autumn sage and anise sage put on a lovely fall show of blooms.

Continue planting herbs: Mexican Mint Marigold (blooms in fall!), basil, thyme, lavender, rosemary, chives, and more! Start seeds of cool season herbs such as dill and cilantro indoors for transplanting in the garden in September and October.

Plant wildflower seeds late in the month to allow for germination and growth prior to winter. Next spring you'll be so happy you planted the seeds back in August!

Direct seed cucumbers, black-eyed peas, bush beans, summer squash, zuchini early in the month. Plant transplants of the cole crops; broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, kale, kohlrabi and cauliflower mid-month. Plant Swiss chard, mustard and collard greens. Start seeds of greens and cole crops, indoors now for transplanting in the garden in September and October. Whole Irish seed potatoes can be planted this month for a late fall harvest of baby potatoes.

Maintenance

Fertilize and prune roses back by about 20-25% to encourage a fall flush of blooms. August is a good time to prune or deadhead many summer blooming perennials such as salvias, black-eyed susan, daylilies, veronica and more. Often, deadheading will encourage new blooms. Continue feeding container plantings and vegetable plants with water-soluble fertilizers such as liquid seaweed. Sidedress vegetables with a balanced granular fertilizer. Continue harvesting eggplant, squash, corn, peppers and warm season herbs from your spring plantings.

Chinch bugs are a major lawn pest of St. Augustine in the heat of the summer. If patches look brown and dry even if turf is getting enough water, check for chinch bugs. Treat with Spinosad, insecticidal soap or come in to NHG to see a full selection of everything we have to treat pests. Treat lawn for white grubs early in the month. Spray Bt (Thuricide) for tent caterpillars and webworms, use horticultural oil or insecticidal soap for thrips, scale, spider mites, mealy bugs and lacebugs. Apply Spinosad to control grasshoppers, aphids, caterpillars and leaf miners in the vegetable garden. Spray liquid seaweed on tomato plants to control spider mites.

Watering: Be sure to adhere to local watering restrictions. Water established plants deeply and infrequently. Established lawns, shrubs and trees will need a deep watering about once to twice per week. Do not rely on your sprinkler system to adequately water new plantings. Provide supplemental hand watering to new plants several times a week, as needed. Early morning, between 6am-8am is the best time to water. Container plantswill most likely need daily watering.