What to do in your garden during August
In temperate summer-rainfall regions do the following in August:
Plant and sow
Annuals
Start sowing summer-flowering annuals from the middle of the month.
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Tropaeolum majus (Nasturtium) -
Tanacetum parthenium (Chrysanthemum parthenium) (Feverfew)
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Dianthus (Carnation, Pink)
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Helianthus annuus (Sunflower)
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Centaurea cyanus (Cornflower)
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Amaranthus tricolor (Joseph’s coat)
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Cosmos bipinnatus (Cosmos)
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Eschscholzia californica (Californian poppy)
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Alcea rosea (Common hollyhock)
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Zinnia elegans (Zinnia,)
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Scabiosa atropurpurea (Sweet scabious, pincushion flower)
Vegetables
Sow vegetables like:
Bulbs
Towards the end of the month, plant summer-flowering bulbs:
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Zantedeschia aethiopica (Arum lily)
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Colocasia x hybrid (Elephant’s-ear)
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Canna Species (Indian shot)
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Tulbaghia violacea (Wild garlic)
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Zephyranthes candida (Fairy lily, white rain lily)
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Tigridia pavonia x hybrids (Mexican shell flower, tiger flower)
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Sprekelia formosissima (Maltese cross, Aztec lily, Jacobean lily)
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Polianthes tuberosa x hybrids (Tuberose)
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Ornithogalum candicans (Berg lily, white berg lily)
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Nerine bowdenii (Giant nerine, large pink nerine)
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Merwilla plumbea (Blue squill, blue hyacinth)
Garden maintenance
General garden maintenance
- Water the lawn once a month.
- Water all fruit trees well once a month.
- Deadhead annuals to prolong their flowering period.
- Feed annuals with a fertilizer high in potassium.
For August maintenance tips on watering, pruning, pests and disease, fertilizing and much more visit our countrywide maintenance guide.
