Trees & Shrubs:

In August you can plant heat-tolerant shrubs and ornamental grasses if you’re able to water consistently. Choose late afternoon or early morning for planting and prep your
soil well.

Recommended Plants:

• Crape myrtle – still blooming; thrives in full sun and heat.
• Rose of Sharon – Can continue blooming into August; monitor for reseeding.
• Knock Out Roses – Deadhead spent blooms and keep well-watered.
• Ornamental Grasses – Provide movement, texture, and drought resistance.
• Anise Shrub – bold color and deer resistant
• Peggy Martin Roses – classic southern roses that are so resilient they survived Hurricane Katrina!
• Carolina Sapphire Cypress – low maintenance, evergreens with a great fragrance
• Sunshine Ligustrum – bright foliage and sun-loving
• Panicle Hydrangeas – Limelights (white/green), Torch (ivory that ages to red in the fall), and Fire Light (light red)
• Encore Azaleas – are starting their summer blooms!

When planning new trees and shrubs, use Callaway’s Bed Builder to improve soil before
planting and be sure to provide daily watering. Water with Ferti-lome Root
Stimulator weekly for up to 5 weeks.

Fertilizing:

Avoid fertilizing trees and shrubs in August unless you’re using a transplant-specific root
stimulator. Excess nitrogen can stress plants in the heat.

Pruning:

• Do not heavily prune in August.
• Only remove dead, damaged, or diseased wood.
• Lightly shape summer bloomers after flowering ends.

Mulch & Straw:

• Maintain 2–3 inches of mulch or pine straw.
• Keep mulch away from plant stems/trunks.
• This helps conserve moisture and reduce soil temperature.

Perennials

Sun Lovers:

Coneflowers, Black Eyed Susans, Salvia, Guara, Plumbago

Shade Lovers:

Liriope (Monkey Grass), Autumn Fern, Southern Wood Fern, Hostas, Heuchera (Coral Bells), Ligularia (Tractor Seat)

Water deeply and mulch well to help new plantings withstand August heat.

Annuals:

You can still plant late-season color in August—just focus on heat-lovers.

Sun: Vinca, Zinnias, Portulaca, Blue Daze (Evolvulus)

Shade: Coleus, Impatiens, Caladiums, Torenia, Wax Begonias, Geraniums, Shrimp Plant

Tropicals:

Hibiscus & Mandevilla – all still thriving and blooming.

Vegetables

Late summer means preparing for fall harvests. Plant heat-lovers now and start seeds indoors for cool-season crops.

Transplant in August:
Tomatoes are still okay to transplant is August for a fall tomato harvest.

Direct Sow in August:
Turnips (roots & greens), Mustard Greens, Collard Greens, Kale (late August), Swiss Chard, Bok Choy/Pak Choi, Spinach, Radishes

Keep soil moist and mulch around where seeds are planted to help retain moisture in the soil. Do not mulch over top where seeds are planted. Wait until seedlings have sprouted and developed true leaves before mulching around them, but not over them.

Start Indoors for Fall Garden:
Broccoli, Cauliflower, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Head Lettuce

Use a seed-starting mix, keep under grow light or in a bright window. It is a a good idea to harden off seedlings before transplanting in September/early fall.

For more details on starting fall seed indoors, read Indoor Seed Starting for a Successful Fall Garden.

Attract Pollinators

Keep those pollinators coming with nectar-rich flowers!

Butterflies:
Zinnias, Lantana, Butterfly Bush, Milkweed

Bees:
Black-Eyed Susans

Hummingbirds & Birds:
Bee Balm, Cuphea, Pentas, Salvia

Don't forget about hummingbird feeders!

Pruning & Propagating

Prune:

• Do not prune heavily in the summer heat.
• Only prune when necessary: dead, damaged, or diseased limbs
• Light shaping of spent summer bloomers (e.g. Crape Myrtle, Butterfly Bush)
• For cuttings for bouquets, cut early in the morning, strip lower leaves, and change vase water daily.
  

Succulents and pothos can be propagated in August.

Repotting

You can still repot tropicals, containers, and houseplants if they are root-bound.

• Choose overcast or early morning for minimal stress
• Use fresh potting mix and water thoroughly
• Shade repotted plants for 2–3 days to reduce shock

Tropical Houseplants Outside

Tropicals are still thriving outdoors—but watch the heat.

Light:

Bright shade or filtered sun (avoid harsh afternoon rays)

Water:

Check daily—pots dry out fast. Water when top 1–2" are dry.

Humidity:

Group plants or use pebble trays for humidity. Mist in the morning if needed.

Feeding:

Use fish emulsion or liquid houseplant food every 2–4 weeks.

Pests:

Watch for spider mites, mealybugs, aphids—treat with insecticidal soap or neem
oil.

Lawn Care

• Do not fertilizer in extreme heat
• Mow high to shade roots and reduce water stress
• Water deeply, but less often
• Spot-treat weeds
• Save reseeding until late September or October
• Keep an eye out for army worms. Their peak season is late August through early fall. If Army Worms are present, use Hi-Yield 38-Plus or Bug Blaster.

Mulch & Straw

Maintain mulch/pine straw around trees, shrubs, and garden beds:

• 2–3 inches deep
• Replenish after heavy rain
• Keep mulch pulled back from base of stems/trunks

Mulch keeps soil cool, retains water, and reduces stress in the hottest month of the year. It is also effected in keeping weeds away.