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 Katerina!
• Carolina Cypress Sapphires – 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 reed)
• 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.

Perennials

August is a good time to plant or divide heat-loving perennials, especially as some begin
prepping for fall growth.

Sun Lovers: Coneflowers, Coreopsis, Salvia, Guara, Plumbago

Shade Lovers: Liriope (Monkey Grass), Autumn Fern, Southern Wood Fern, Hostas, Heuchera (Coral Bells)

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

Summer Annuals & Tropicals:

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

Sun Annuals: Vinca, Zinnias, Portulaca, Celosia, SunPatiens, Angelonia

Shade Annuals: Coleus, Impatiens, Caladiums, Torenia, Wax Begonias

Tropicals: Hibiscus & Mandevilla – all still thriving and blooming.

Tropicals & House Plants 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.

Vegetables

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

Direct Sow in August:
Okra, Southern Peas, Pumpkins (early Aug), Collards, Turnips

Transplant in August:
Peppers, Eggplant, Tomatoes (cherry varieties), Basil, Thyme, Oregano

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

Fertilize with Ferti-lome Tomato & Vegetable Food (7-22-8) or Fish Emulsion. Keep beds mulched and water deeply.

Attract Pollinators

Keep those pollinators coming with nectar-rich flowers!

Butterflies:
Zinnias, Lantana, Butterfly Bush, Milkweed

Bees:
Cosmos, Basil, Black-Eyed Susans

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

Pruning & Cleaning

• 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.

Propagate via Softwood Cuttings:
Coleus, Mint, Basil, Salvia, Wandering Jew
Succulents and pothos can still be propagated in August.

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.

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

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.

Get instructions specific to your grass:

• Bermuda & Zoysia
• Centipede
• St Augustine

Mulch & Straw

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

• Maintain 2–3 inches of mulch or pinestraw
• 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.