Keep Your Garden Thriving During the Dog Days of Summer
August in Wayne County brings hot temperatures, high humidity, and the occasional afternoon thunderstorm. While summer gardens are still producing, now is also the perfect time to prepare for a productive fall harvest. Here are some timely gardening tips to keep your landscape healthy and your vegetable garden growing strong.
Vegetable Garden
Harvest Often
- Pick tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, squash, okra, beans, and melons regularly to encourage continued production.
- Harvest vegetables early in the morning for the best flavor and freshness.
Start Your Fall Garden
August is one of the best months to begin planting cool-season vegetables.
- Beans
- Beets
- Broccoli (transplants)
- Brussels sprouts (transplants)
- Cabbage (transplants)
- Carrots
- Cauliflower (transplants)
- Collards
- Kale
- Kohlrabi
- Lettuce (late August)
- Mustard greens
- Radishes
- Spinach (late August)
- Turnips
Water Wisely
- Most vegetables need about 1 to 1½ inches of water each week.
- Water deeply 2–3 times per week instead of shallow daily watering.
- Water early in the morning to reduce disease problems.
Mulch
- Add 2–3 inches of mulch around vegetables to conserve moisture, reduce weeds, and keep soil temperatures cooler.
Tomato Tips
- Remove diseased or yellowing leaves.
- Watch for hornworms, stink bugs, and blossom-end rot.
- Continue tying plants to stakes or cages as they grow.
- Pick tomatoes before they become overripe during hot weather.
Flowers & Landscape
Deadhead Flowers
Remove faded blooms from:
- Zinnias
- Marigolds
- Coneflowers
- Black-eyed Susans
- Salvias
This encourages more blooms through early fall.
Plant Fall Bloomers
Garden centers begin stocking:
- Mums
- Pansies (late August)
- Ornamental peppers
- Ornamental cabbage and kale
Trees & Shrubs
- Avoid heavy pruning now—it can encourage tender new growth that may not survive cooler weather.
- Water newly planted trees deeply once a week if rainfall is limited.
- Inspect shrubs for spider mites and scale insects.
Lawn Care
- Continue mowing warm-season grasses (Bermuda, Zoysia, Centipede, St. Augustine) at the recommended height.
- Leave grass clippings on the lawn to recycle nutrients.
- Water only when necessary—about 1 inch per week.
- Avoid heavy fertilizing this month unless recommended by a soil test.
Help Pollinators
August flowers provide valuable nectar for butterflies and bees.
Plant or maintain:
- Zinnias
- Sunflowers
- Lantana
- Mexican Sunflower (Tithonia)
- Bee Balm
- Native Goldenrod (later in the month)
Avoid spraying insecticides while pollinators are active.
Wildlife Tip
Keep birdbaths clean and filled with fresh water during the summer heat. Birds, butterflies, and beneficial insects all appreciate a reliable water source.
Watch for Garden Pests
Common August pests include:
- Tomato hornworms
- Squash vine borers
- Aphids
- Spider mites
- Whiteflies
- Armyworms
Check plants every few days so problems can be caught early.
Garden To-Do List
✅ Harvest vegetables every few days
✅ Start planting cool-season crops
✅ Water deeply during dry spells
✅ Refresh mulch around plants
✅ Deadhead annual flowers
✅ Scout for insects and diseases
✅ Begin planning your fall landscape
Wayne County Gardening Reminder
August can be one of the toughest months for gardeners, but a little extra attention now will reward you with fresh vegetables well into the fall and beautiful blooms through the changing seasons. Stay hydrated, garden during the cooler morning hours, and enjoy the final stretch of the summer growing season!
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