Essential August Garden Tasks | What to Do in the Garden This Month

August Gardening Guide: Essential Tasks to Thrive in Late Summer

August is an important month for gardens. Summer is winding down, and fall is just around the corner. The dog days of summer are upon us, but there is still plenty that can be done to keep gardens looking their best. In this post, we'll talk about some key tasks gardeners should focus on in August to prepare for the changing seasons. Some of the essential jobs include deadheading flowers, dividing perennials, harvesting vegetables, planting fall crops, watering efficiently, and controlling pests. August requires careful maintenance to keep gardens healthy and productive before transitioning into autumn. Read on to learn more about what you as a gardener should prioritize this month.

Clip ripening seedheads from plants that tend to self-sow aggressively, like Joe-Pye weed, comfrey, lemon balm, cleome and money plant.

Pot up and bring some of your favorite herbs indoors. parsley, rosemary, chives, thyme and marjoram do well like this.
Learn More: A Complete Guide to Growing Your Own Herbal Tea Garden

Cut back faded perennials to keep borders tidy.

Keep your Camellias and Rhododendrons well watered at this time of year to ensure that next year’s buds develop well.

Keep patio container plants well watered and fertilize them with liquid fertilizer every two week.

Prune summer flowering shrubs once they have finished blooming.

Trim your Lavender plants after they’ve finished flowering to keep them compact. Learn More: How To Grow Lavender

Prune climbing roses and rambling roses once they’ve finished flowering (unless they are repeat-flowerers in which case leave them). Learn More: Mid-Summer Rose Pruning Like Pro

Water your vegetable plants and fruit plants daily in warm weather.

Pinch the top of tomato plants to concentrate the growth into the fruit that has already formed. Aim to leave 5 or 6 trusses of fruit per plant.
Learn More: How To Grow Your Best Tomatoes Ever

Plant seeds for fall leafy greens such as kale, spinach, chard and lettuces. Protect ripening fall pumpkins and winter squash.
Learn More: 8 Fall Vegetables To Plant

Slip a piece of terra- cotta beneath them to prevent rot on the bottom.

Cut back herbs now to encourage a new flush of tasty leaves you can harvest before the frost.

Pinch the tips of your runner bean plants once they reach the top of their support. This encourages side-shooting and more beans at a manageable height for picking.

Start harvesting potatoes as the leaves yellow and die back.

As you work in the garden this month, remember to keep yourself well hydrated too! Don’t worry if your lawn is looking brown. It is going into summer dormancy. The fall rains will soon make it green again.

Turn the compost in your compost bins every month to keep it well aerated and to speed up decomposition.
Learn More: The ABC's Of Gardening: The Importance Of Quality Soil

Keep bird baths topped up in hot weather.

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