Last updated on December 2nd, 2011
AUGUST IS THE TIME to obtain as many perennials as you can; from azaleas to weigelas, most are deeply discounted now at garden centers. No matter how decrepit-looking or pot-bound they might be, just plant them in good soil, and keep them moist. Their beauty will return when spring arrives. (Click below for more August tips.)
Annuals. Take cuttings from your impatiens plants and petunias, and root them in pots of good soil. Brought indoors before frost, these colorful annuals will bloom from January on.
Bulbs. It’s the early gardener who gets the best tulips, hyacinths, narcissi and other cherished spring bulbs. Order these now, and you won’t be disappointed. I obtain most of my bulbs from easytogrowbulbs.com; for heirloom varieties, I rely on oldhousegardens.com.
Compost. Turn the compost pile and water it well.
Daylilies. Following a heavy rain, divide and transplant big clumps.
Herbs. Harvest and store your herbs, or use them in cooking. Throughout August I’ll offer a number of delicious herb-based recipes that you won’t want to miss!
Lawns. Let the weather, not the calendar, dictate your mowing routine. Do not mow at all during times of drought. (Frankly, mowing has been a relentless task here, with record rainfall in June and July, plus the mother-of-all-storms yesterday.)
Roses. Fertilize now for autumn bloom.
Vegetables. Keep picking broccoli to insure further production. Harvest potatoes when vines die back. Also, make new sowings of salad greens, onions, beans and carrots.
A nice extra. Buy a few squirrel-proof birdfeeders, and suspend them where they can be viewed from windows. Should winter arrive early, as some are predicting, your birds will be grateful for your thoughtfulness. Even during blizzards I have enjoyed watching the red wings of cardinals and the white tails of juncos dash in and out of my own feeders, including the one that hangs just outside my office window.
If heat and humidity are high, sit back and enjoy a cool, refreshing drink. You might find that my Rose-Geranium Iced-Vodka is the ideal gardening tool for August.
You, of course, probably have your own list of August “to-do’s.” Why not share them in the comments section below?
Justin says
Wow, beautiful flowers in the basket. What are they? Looks like zinnias and delphinium plus others.
Good tip about perennials. I can probably get forsythia for half-price now, right?
Samantha says
Kevin, I'd love to have impatiens and petunias for winter! Can't I just dig mine up in the fall and pot them? I've never tried growing them indoors before.
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
Justin – in the basket are delphinium, zinnias, pink and white snapdragons and annual asters, all collected from the garden for an entrance-hall bouquet.
Samantha – Plants that have flowered all summer in the open garden are on the weary side by fall. If you want attractive, winter-flowering specimens, it's best to take cuttings and start fresh, new plants.
Janis in Chicago says
My august tasks?
1. Keep the weeds out of my veggie patch
2. “Install” two arborvitaes on either side of porch
3. Freeze beans, peas and carrots
4. Finally try your rose geranium vodka!
Eric says
If it doesn't stop raining, there will be NO August chores at all!!!
Randy J. says
August is (generally) the perfect time to divide German (Bearded) Iris. Of course the reason for that is that August is generally relatively hot and dry. This year I would not touch my German Irises at all unless we start to get some reasonable August weather (I cannot believe that I would ever refer to typical August weather as “reasonable” as I am not a lover of heat and humidity. But even the heat and humidity is preferable to watching the garden float away!
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
Randy – great tip concerning German iris. This summer has not been “reasonable” at all. And, it's raining again…today!
Samantha says
Kevin – is it too late to plant roses? Those that didn't sell at my local HD are very cheap right now. They look horrible, but will they come back next year?
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
Samantha – You can definitely plant roses now, and even through October.