07/28/2026
August is just around the corner, and here's what you should be doing in your garden:
-Keep watering! August is hot, and established trees, shrubs, perennials, vegetables, and roses should receive 1 inch of water per week. Container plants dry out more quickly and will require more frequent watering.
-Mulch preservers moisture, protects plant roots, suppresses weeds, and regulates soil temperature. Apply 2 to 3 inches of leaf mulch on flower beds, as well as trees and shrubs.
-Keep picking your vegetables to encourage them to continue producing.
-In the first week of August, plant short-season broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, mustard greens, radishes, snap beans, and spinach for fall harvesting.
-Check for pests and insect damage.
-Mid- to late August is the best time to seed bare areas of lawn, overseed thinning grass, or lay down sod.
-Remove withered flowers ("deadhead") some annuals and perennials to encourage additional blooms and to keep plants looking their best.
Read more: https://www.chicagobotanic.org/plantinfo/checklist/august