August Gardening Jobs and Landscaping Tips

In the north, vegetable and annual gardens are finishing up. In New England, garden stands will have pumpkins for sale already! However, in the southern hemisphere, there’s still plenty of gardening to do. You can take advantage of the cooler weather to plant and harvest a variety of vegetables. If you’re planning to work outside, consider where the best spots are. You should also be aware of hot and humid days, so you can plan your gardening activities accordingly.

Feeding garden birds and other wildlife is important throughout the year, but it’s particularly important in the heat of summer and dry conditions. As a result, August gardening jobs should include providing fresh water. In addition to that, you can also implement some wildlife-friendly gardening ideas. Try planting pollinator-friendly flowers, such as sweet peas, cerinthe, globe thistle, and sunflowers. It’s also a good idea to add some autumn-friendly plants.

If you live in a dry area, you can start planting garlic in your garden. This perennial herb is low maintenance and requires little care once established. Planting vegetables such as spinach and lettuce is also possible in August. Planting vegetables such as broccoli and spinach will also produce a harvest later on in the season. If you have citrus trees in your yard, these plants have probably been harvested. Fertilize them after harvesting to ensure a long-lasting harvest.

As for your garden, make sure to plant autumn-flowering vegetables. Chard, cabbage, lettuce, celery, kale, and collards are ideal for this time of year. As long as you plan ahead, you’ll be able to harvest the crops you plant in August. If you’re a gardener who doesn’t want to let fall pass, plant some autumn annuals. They’ll look lovely until frost hits.

In the Midwest, temperatures can still reach scorching levels. In the Northeast, plants can be wiped dry by extended heat waves, so be sure to water them frequently and harvest their produce regularly. Don’t prune shrubs in August because they’ll need more water during the winter to harden off. The new growth will not harden off in time for winter and will probably be destroyed. You can also plant fall-season crops like kale, broccoli, and Brussels sprouts.

You can order peony roots for your garden in August. This is the best time to plant peonies, as the blooms develop more color and flavor the longer they’re on the plant. For container planting, use a balanced liquid fertilizer half strength. Deadheading and fertilizing regularly will help your peonies bloom continuously throughout the entire month of August. And don’t forget to plant your tomatoes! If you can, get them planted at least a month before the average first frost.