What to do in the garden in August

Warm weather is here in full force and we have tips for getting through the “dog days of summer.” See what you should be doing in the garden this hot month.

Warm weather is here in full force and we have tips for getting through the “dog days of summer.” See what you should be doing in the garden this hot month.

As summer weather sizzles it may be a good opportunity to embrace a little down time and reassess your gardening plans for next year. Don’t give up completely on your garden this month, just make sure to do any gardening chores either early in the morning or evening when the temperatures are cooler.

Here are a few things to look after during August.

1. Finish harvesting

Enjoy the rest of your summer bounty and start canning or freezing herbs and vegetables so you have some that can be enjoyed during colder winter months. Make sure to clean out any remaining vegetables or fallen fruit so that it doesn’t decompose on site and attract unwanted pests. If it’s not edible, throw it in the compost pile for next seasons’ garden.

2. Summer maintenance

With temperatures in the triple digits in most parts of the country, make sure to water thoroughly and completely soak the roots. Watering during early morning is best, but early evening is also a good time for the job. Make sure to stay on top of weeds that might pop up after heavy summer rains so they don’t steal the nutrients from the plants you want to keep. Also keep an eye on any water features you have in the garden, like fountains and bird baths, to make sure it isn’t a breeding ground for mosquitos in your yard.

3. Plan ahead

Start looking forward to what you want to do in the garden next. If you plan to plant trees or shrubs this fall, start researching which ones you’d like to buy and place your order. It’s never too late to start thinking about your spring garden too. Order spring bulbs so they will be there when it’s time to plant. Start a gardening inspiration page on Pinterest or tear out magazine pages of your favorite gardens or landscapes to start getting ideas for which direction you’d like to take your garden in next. It’s never too early to start planning ahead for the spring planting season!