August 1, 2024
August Gardening To-Do
August in Texas is a time for both patience and preparation. While the rain and temperatures have not been terrible so far, a hot month could still be ahead of us, there's still plenty to do to ensure your garden thrives in the coming months.
Planting:
- Ornamental & Wildlife Plants: August isn't ideal for planting, but if you have to plant, provide shade and daily watering.
- Food Crops: Focus on planting beans. Second round transplants of tomatoes. Check the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Vegetable Planting Guides for guidance.
Pruning:
- Oaks: Prune red oaks and live oaks until February, then seal.
- Other Trees: No need for pruning paint.
- Flowering Plants: Deadhead to encourage new blooms. Lightly prune perennials and roses in late August or early September for fall flowers. Cut coneflower stalks back to the rosette.
Fertilizing:
- Flowers & Vegetables: Do soil drenches with liquid seaweed. (Unless very high temperatures are coming up)
- Container Annuals: Fertilize with a high-nitrogen fertilizer every few weeks.
Insect Control:
- Aphids & Spider Mites: Blast with water, especially on the undersides of leaves.
- Crape Myrtles: Watch for aphids and other insects causing honeydew and sooty mold. Wash them off and remove damaged leaves.
Lawn Care:
- Mowing: Keep the mower on a high setting, leaving the grass long to protect the roots. Don't remove more than 1/3 of the grass at a time. Leave clippings on the lawn. This is especially crucial in August to prepare for potential weed growth in September.
Preparing for Fall:
- Garden Cleanup: Clean up debris in the vegetable garden and apply compost with slow-release organic fertilizer.
- Planning: Start planning your fall garden, exploring native wildflower seeds and perennializing bulbs for spring.
- Transplants: Tomato plants can be cut down and shaded to give them a break from the harsh heat. Shadecloth, bed sheets, or white frost cloth can be used to provide shade.
Other Tasks:
- Solarization: Kill grass or weed pests in areas you want to plant later.
- Seed Collection: Gather seeds from summer bloomers, clean them, and store them in breathable containers for next spring.
- Watering: Deeply water new plants, even if it rains. Check the soil to ensure water reaches the roots.
- Garden Journal: Keep track of bloom times and insect activity.
Tips:
- Herbs: Prune regularly to encourage new growth.
- Fruit & Nut Trees: Water deeply to prevent fruit drop-off.
- Mindset: Embrace the slower pace of August gardening. Your plants will bounce back with cooler temperatures!
August Flowers:
Verbena, Impatiens, Periwinkle, Gomphrena, Lantana, Coreopsis, Flowering Balsam, Celosia, Coleus, Dusty Miller, Cleome, Aster, Zinnias, Marigold, Cosmos, Jacobinia, Purslane, Mexican Heather, Begonia, Pentas, Hamelia, Petunias, Nicotiana, Salvia.
Veggies to Plant:
Bush Beans, Pole Beans, peppers, and tomatoes.
By: Calvin King HCWG Horticulturist and Co-Owner of Glass Root Garden
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