7 Key Gardening Tasks A Pro Always Recommends Tackling in August
Check these chores off your to-do list to help your garden thrive.
If July was too hot and humid to do much in your garden, it’s time to get back out there! Summer may be starting to wind down, but there are plenty of gardening chores that you can still check off your list.
One of my favorite things to do is to take stock of my garden early in the morning, cup of coffee in hand. I like to walk around and cast a critical eye over everything. What looks like it needs attention? What could use a refresh? August is the ideal time to look ahead for fall chores that need to be done before the cold arrives—because, whether we like to admit it or not—it will be here sooner than you think!
Many of these August gardening tasks will extend your growing season by encouraging plants to bloom again and look better for a longer period of time. Some chores will save you time and frustration later because you’ll catch issues early on.
Of course, you already know you need to keep watering plants, especially containers, which dry out fast in the heat. It’s also never a good idea to give up on weeding because every unwanted plant that’s allowed to go to seed will create more weeds down the road. But there are several other essential gardening tasks that you should keep up with this month.
Deadheading Plants
Many blooming annuals will keep pushing flowers as long as you deadhead, or snip off the faded flowers. Remember that a plant’s sole purpose in life is to reproduce via seeds, which come from the flowers. As long as you keep deadheading, many annual flowers, such as marigolds, zinnias, cosmos, will keep pushing blooms.
Fertilizing Container Plants
If you used new potting mix this year, it may have contained some slow-release fertilizer. Chances are, that’s already been depleted because nutrients leach through containers faster than they do in-ground. It’s likely time to give your plants a fresh boost. Use a water-soluble fertilizer about once a week to keep the blooms coming.
Starting to Save Seeds
One of the first jobs I ever had in my Gram’s garden was to collect seeds to save for next year. You can save the seeds from many heirloom flowers, such as marigolds, cosmos, and zinnias. Let them air dry, then store in a paper envelope for next year. Don’t store in plastic because they can get moldy.
Ordering Garlic and Spring-Flowering Bulbs
If you haven’t already, it’s time to pre-order your garlic and spring-flowering bulbs, which must be planted in the fall. It’s too hot to plant them yet, but you need to have your bulbs ready to go when the time comes in late September to early November, depending on where you live.
Most reputable bulb companies ship when it’s time to plant in your area. If you wait until it’s planting time to order, the stock will be gone. Bulbs purchased from local retailers may be okay, but you don’t know how they’ve been handled in transit—and bulbs that haven’t been stored properly will not perform well.
Planting Late-Season Flowers for Fall Color
Even if you’ve been babying your annuals, they may start looking a little tired and bedraggled about now. It’s fine to pull them up and start over for fall color. It also feels good to refresh plantings with fall-themed plants such as chrysanthemums, but you also can plant perennials, which will come back for many years, such as asters and goldenrod.
RELATED: 35 Best Fall Flowers
Preserving Herbs
If you have an abundant harvest of herbs, such as basil, chives, parsley, and mint, you can harvest and dry or freeze some now for fall and winter meals. I usually have enough of most herbs to get me through the winter! My favorite way to preserve basil is to blend it up with a little water or olive oil and freeze it in an ice cube tray. All other herbs dry well, then they can be frozen for longer storage.
RELATED: Your Complete Guide to Herbs
Keeping an Eye out for Pests
The summer may be winding down, but the pests haven’t gone anywhere. Inspect vegetable plants closely, keep an eye on ornamentals such as roses, and watch for any signs of infestation, such as chewed leaves, webbing or frass (bug excrement).
Also, get a proper pest ID before doing anything to ensure you know what you’re dealing with (your local university coop extension service can help). Sometimes your plants can tolerate a little feeding and will be just fine. Other times, you may need to take action. But it starts with knowing what’s doing the damage!
Arricca Elin SanSone is a writer, editor, and content creator who specializes in lifestyle and gardening. With a background in health reporting, she applies these same research skills when writing about the science of growing things. She trials new plants in her expansive garden, and her houseplant collection consists of 60+ varieties. Arricca has written thousands of articles for publications such as Country Living, House Beautiful, Good Housekeeping, Prevention, VERANDA, Southern Living, and more. She’s happiest when digging in the dirt, baking, or spending time with the people and dogs she loves.
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