Weekend Gardening: August To Do List

August 19, 2017

Here are gardening tips for the month of August from the UF/IFAS Extension program:

What to Plant

  • Bedding Plants: The hottest days of summer limit planting now to heat tolerant vinca, gaillardia, bulbine, and coleus.
  • Bulbs:Aztec lily, butterfly lily, walking iris, and spider lily can be planted any time of the year, even late summer.
  • Herbs: Herbs that can be planted from plants (not seeds) include bay laurel, ginger,Mexican tarragon, and rosemary.
  • Vegetables: This month starts the fall planting season. Many cool season crops can be planted now, including a final crop of warm-season vegetables such as pepper. Tomato can be planted for the fall garden.
What to Do
  • Lawn problems: Damaged areas can be the result of insects, disease, or irrigation problems. Be sure to determine the cause so the proper remedy is used. Use a sharp mower blade and only remove 1/3 of grass blade to reduce stress on the lawn.
  • Palms: If older fronds are yellowing, you may have a magnesium or potassium deficiency. Apply an appropriate palm fertilizer.
  • Poinsettias: Pinch back poinsettias and mums before the end of the month to allow time for buds to form for winter bloom.
  • Ornamental Plants: Rapid growth and leaching rains may result in nutrient deficiencies in some plants. Fertilize those plants that show signs of deficiencies.
  • Bedding Plants: Remove spent blooms, cut back, and fertilize flowering annuals and perennials to extend the bloom season into the fall months.
What To Do Every Month
  • Adjust irrigation based on rainfall.
  • Deadhead flowers to encourage new blooms.
  • Monitor the garden for insects and disease.
  • Plant trees, shrubs, and perennials and water until established.

Comments

4 Responses to “Weekend Gardening: August To Do List”

  1. Anna Rena on August 20th, 2017 8:53 am

    Thank you. Very helpful article. I love my little garde however I am just now starting to understand how living in PA with variable sunlight and very abundant water from rainfall changes the way I should plan and plant my garden.

  2. The Sugar Shack on August 20th, 2017 2:26 am

    Any leafy greens can be sown right now for one last late fall harvest along with your beans. And my grandpa always told me not to
    forget to plant your garlic before the first freeze

  3. Ladybug on August 19th, 2017 5:28 pm

    I just left my pole beans and my bush beans in that I planted in the spring and they started flowering and producing again like crazy

  4. Debbie on August 19th, 2017 7:40 am

    According to the Grier’s Farmers Almanac, August is the month to plant bush beans. Anyone in our local area do this and what type do you plant? Thanks!