Gardening Tips for Maximizing Your August Garden
As the summer heat settles in, it’s time to roll up your sleeves and tend to your garden. August is a crucial month for garden maintenance and ensuring your plants thrive in the heat as they start to wind down for Fall. Here are some essential tips and tasks to keep your garden flourishing throughout the rest of the summer.
August Is Grow Your Own TEA Month!
We’re celebrating The Tea Plant in August at Blackcreek Nursery & Garden. We have lots of beautiful Tea Plants available for your garden, along with valuable learning opportunities! Are you curious about the art of growing and processing tea? Join us in August for a unique workshop where you’ll discover the secrets of Camellia sinensis, the magical plant behind the world’s second-most-consumed beverage….Tea! Check Out Our Event Schedule Here!
We have lots of beautiful tea plants, direct from the Blackcreek Tea Garden, ready for your garden! You’ll also want to get a copy of our book – The Tea Gardener, which can help you with growing and making your own homegrown tea!
August Growing Tips
1. Watering Wisely
With scorching temperatures, proper watering becomes paramount. Water deeply and infrequently to encourage deep root growth and prevent the soil from drying out too quickly. Consider watering early in the morning or late in the evening to minimize evaporation. Focus on the base of the plants and avoid wetting the foliage to reduce the risk of diseases.
2. Mulching for Moisture Retention
Mulching is a lifesaver during hot summer months, helping to conserve moisture in the soil and prevent weeds from taking over. Apply a layer of organic mulch, such as straw or wood chips, around your plants to regulate soil temperature and reduce water evaporation.
3. Fertilizing for Growth
August is a great time to give your plants an extra boost of nutrients. Apply a balanced, slow-release fertilizer or organic feed to promote healthy growth. Pay special attention to your vegetable garden, providing them with the necessary nutrients for abundant fruiting.
4. Pruning and Deadheading
Regularly prune and deadhead your flowering plants to encourage new growth and extended blooming. Remove spent flowers, especially from annuals and perennials, to redirect energy towards healthy foliage and future blooms.
Some plants fruit or flower on last year’s growth, so pruning on some of these things should be done with caution. Hydrangeas (except for Panicles) blueberries and blackberries should be done right after blooming and fruiting and in enough time that new growth will emerge this season. Severe pruning with not enough time to put on new growth before fall will result in less flowers or fruit next year.
5. Collect Seeds!
Many of our favorite flowers can be useful in producing seeds. Zinnia, Cosmos, Black and Brown Eyed Susans, Basil, Coneflower, and many others can be harvested and seeds can be collected for the following year!
As your flowers start to fade and lose their luster, clip them off and put them in a labeled brown paper bag. Store them somewhere dry and next season, they’re ready to plant!
6. Pest and Disease Management
Keep an eye on your plants for any signs of pests or diseases. August is a prime time for insect activity, so regularly inspect and apply appropriate organic pest control methods as needed. Be sure to check for common pests like aphids, spider mites, and caterpillars.
7. Harvesting and Enjoying the Fruits of Your Labor
All of your hard work will begin to pay off in August as fruits and vegetables ripen. Harvest your crops at their peak of freshness the delicious rewards of your efforts. Regular harvesting also encourages the plants to produce more and helps prevent over-ripening and fruit drop.
8. Protecting The Pollinators
Butterflies, Bees, and a whole host of beneficial insects are in full swing in August. Make sure to protect them by keeping harmful chemicals out of their way. Using organic, ‘safe’ control measures for weeds and other pests will help prevent injury to pollinators. Always read the label if you use a chemical to make sure their ‘bee’ safe. I’ve recently heard people using an old popular insecticide dust to kill unwanted insects. But did you know that dusting your veggies with an insecticide also kills the pollinators that are making it possible for your plants to develop fruit? A better choice is Diatomaceous Earth or Neem Oil Sprays – but again – read the labels.
Our pollinators are in a feeding frenzy but don’t forget to give them a drink of water. Providing a fountain, a small water garden, or even a bowl of water in your garden can give them much-needed hydration.
9. Planning for the Fall
While enjoying the summer garden, it’s also essential to start planning for the fall. Research and prepare for the cool-season crops that thrive in Georgia, such as kale, lettuce, and broccoli. Start seedlings indoors or in a partially shaded area to allow them to develop before transplanting them into the garden in late summer.
Remember during the hottest parts of the day and stay hydrated while working in the garden. Gardening in August in Georgia may present its challenges, but with proper care and attention, your garden will continue to flourish and inspire. Happy gardening!
10. Plant Perennials
August is the perfect time to find fabulous blooming summer perennials in the nursery that you don’t see early in the spring. Planting these in August is ideal for getting them established before cold weather sets in. You will need to keep them watered because it is still hot in the south – but the payoff for that extra effort will be immense when you’re enjoying those beautiful blooms in your garden next year!
Buddleia, Black Eyed Susan, Lantana, and many other beautiful perennials will have your garden swarming with pollinators this year and in the years to come! 1
11. Harvest & Make Your Own Tea From Camellia Sinensis
August is the height of tea season and it is the most ideal time to be harvesting your leaves and making Green, Black, or Oolong Tea from your Camellia sinensis Tea Plants. In late September the plants will start to enter dormancy so pick away right now! Don’t know how? Come visit us and we’ll show you how! You can also take part in one of our Tea Classes this month that will give you an in-depth look at how to grow and make your own tea!
