August Plant Care

August can still be very hot and dry. Here are some plant care tips to help your plants stay healthy in August heat and prepare some things for fall.

With temps in the 80s and 90s, plants, especially perennials, tend to dry out exceedingly quick. Make sure to monitor plants by sticking your finger in the soil next to the plant.

You want the top 2 or 3 inches of the soil to be dry. If it is dry below that, you need to water.

New plantings need to be monitored more carefully for the first full year. Established plants, such as Hemlock, Oak, Redbud, and Hydrangea, all prefer extra moisture during dry periods. Water these plants once a week during hot and dry weather, especially during August, September and October.

All evergreens really like additional water later in the season to keep them healthy during the winter months. In warmer weather, it is best to water in the morning hours to give plants time to soak up the water before the hot sun makes an appearance.

Morning watering also helps to prevent the plants from wilting in the blazing afternoon heat.

In August, you can also apply bone meal to peonies and work into soil for added nutrients

This is also a time when you can also divide and transplant your Iris plants.

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