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August Landscaping Tips: Preparing Your Garden for the Transition to Fall

Updated: Sep 25, 2024

As summer draws to a close, it's an ideal time to make the most of your landscape while also getting it ready for the winter ahead. August is a key month for garden maintenance and planning, helping to ensure your outdoor space stays vibrant and healthy as the seasons shift. Here are some tips to keep your landscape in top shape during this transition:

1. Bring Your Garden Indoors

Decorate your home with the fruits of your garden by picking fresh flowers to display indoors. This not only brightens up your living space but also encourages more blooms on most perennials. Regularly harvesting flowers can stimulate new growth, helping your garden stay lively through the end of summer.


2. Tidy Up Your Garden Beds

As plants finish their blooming period, it's important to keep up with weeding flower beds and removing faded blooms. Clearing away these remnants helps prevent diseases and pests while keeping your garden tidy and prepared for any late-season growth.

3. Maintain Soil Moisture

August can still bring heat waves, so it's important to keep your garden well-hydrated. Water your plants twice a day, but be careful not to overdo it. A gentle watering with a sprinkler hose is ideal, as it provides enough moisture without overwhelming the roots. The goal is to lightly nurture your plants, not drown them.

4. Care for Your Herb Garden

If you have an herb garden, now is the time to gather herbs for drying as they mature. Regularly pinch the stems of basil to prevent flowering and harvest about once a week to ensure continued growth. Drying herbs during this time will give you a flavorful supply for the colder months ahead.

5. Revitalize Your Lawn

After a hot summer, your lawn may be showing signs of stress. Feed your lawn with a slow-acting fertilizer and continue to mow and trim the edges regularly. Keep an eye out for yellow patches or poor growth, which may indicate a need for increased watering. A healthy lawn now will set the stage for a strong recovery in the fall.


6. Plan for Fall Planting

August is the perfect time to order peony roots, as September is the ideal month for planting them. Peonies should be in the ground about a month before the average first frost date, giving them time to establish before winter arrives.


7. Watch for Pests and Diseases

Throughout the garden, be vigilant for signs of insect, slug, snail, or disease damage. Take necessary steps to control these problems early, as late-season infestations can weaken your plants before winter.


August Maintenance Schedule

Early August

  • Weed Control: Keep garden weeds from going to seed to prevent future problems.

  • Aphid Monitoring: Aphids can persist all season. Combat them with a strong blast of water or insecticidal soap.

  • Cucumber Beetles: Continue controlling cucumber beetles that spread bacterial wilt with weekly dusts of insecticides.

  • Tree and Shrub Care: Avoid pruning trees and shrubs, as new growth may not harden off in time for winter.

  • Fruit and Vegetable Harvest: Regularly harvest fruits and vegetables to avoid attracting more pests with overripe produce.


Mid-August

  • Dahlia Care: Disbud dahlias for extra-large flowers.

  • Raspberry Maintenance: Prune out old raspberry canes to prepare for next year and avoid disease. Leave 3-4 canes per foot of row.

  • Iris Care: Divide irises and check for rhizome roots, destroying any infected plants.

  • Watering: Continue watering flower beds once a week during dry periods.

  • Early Harvests: Harvest early apples and dig early potatoes as vines die down.


Late August

  • Fruit Tree Care: Continue maintaining a spray program on fruit trees.

  • Pear Harvest: Harvest pears as they become light green.

  • Perennial Division: Divide spring-flowering perennials to prepare for the next growing season.

  • Lawn Care: Now is a great time to seed or sod new lawns or repair damaged areas in existing lawns.

  • Deadheading: Continue deadheading flowers to prepare for a final late-season display.



August is a key time for your garden.  This is the perfect time to focus on preparing your garden for the upcoming seasons. Begin by adjusting your watering routine to ensure your plants receive just the right amount of moisture. It’s also essential to address any fading or dying plants—pruning and cutting back will help rejuvenate your garden and prepare it for new growth. Additionally, now is the time to start planning for fall planting, setting the stage for a vibrant garden throughout the cooler months.


If you want your garden to truly shine and make a lasting impression, consider partnering with Earth Scapes Landscaping. Our team of experts specializes in creating beautiful, bespoke garden designs tailored to your specific needs and preferences.


With Earth Scapes, our goal is to exceed your expectations with a functional and beautiful design. Enjoy a fun and interactive process as we collaborate with you in our design office to review and refine your plans. Contact us today!

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