August Garden Chores for All USDA Grow Zones

Planting by USDA Zone is a good starting point to get a handle on what you should be thinking of planting and when. If you pair this overview of gardening tasks by zone with experience, local knowledge and good year on year note taking then you will be well on your way to a successful and confident gardener in no time!

ZONE 4

For late crops of beets, bush beans, carrots, Chinese cabbage, cucumbers, kohlrabi, and onion sets, continue sowing seeds until August 15th. Peas and collards can be seeded again now, too.
Continue your bug removal pest damage inspections! Remove and treat as needed.
After the last raspberry harvest for the year, prepare for next year while also avoiding diseases by pruning out old flowering canes leaving only 3-4 young canes per foot of row. Wait until spring to prune back shoot tips.
Avoid pruning trees and shrubs since doing so this late in the season can stimulate new growth that will not harden off in time for the cold winter weather ahead. Delay pruning until the end of the dormant season early next spring.
Harvest onions and garlic as the tops dry and fall over. Braid garlic tops and hang in a cool, dry place. Cut onion tops back to 1" and dry thoroughly before storing. Use any damaged produce immediately.
This is a good time to order and plant spring flowering bulbs for next year's early flower display. Plan for different flowering times to extend the season.
Seeds can again be sown for a late crop of leaf lettuce, mustard greens, Swiss chard and spinach.
Continue deadheading flowers which will allow plants to use energy reserves for a final flower display.

ZONE 5

Sow peas in mid to late August for a fall crop.
Continue your bug removal pest damage inspections! Remove and treat as needed.
After the last raspberry harvest for the year, prepare for next year while also avoiding diseases by pruning out old flowering canes leaving only 3-4 young canes per foot of row. Wait until spring to prune back shoot tips.
Avoid pruning trees and shrubs since doing so this late in the season can stimulate new growth that will not harden off in time for the cold winter weather ahead. Delay pruning until the end of the dormant season early next spring.
Harvest onions and garlic as the tops dry and fall over. Braid garlic tops and hang in a cool, dry place. Cut onion tops back to 1" and dry thoroughly before storing. Use any damaged produce immediately.
This is a good time to order and plant spring flowering bulbs for next year's early flower display. Plan for different flowering times to extend the season.
Seeds can again be sown for a late crop of leaf lettuce, mustard greens, Swiss chard and spinach.
Continue deadheading flowers which will allow plants to use energy reserves for a final flower display.
Some perennial flowers and bulbs will start to go dormant this month. Marking their location with a painted popsicle stick or drawing out a map of your bed is helpful come spring so you don’t forget where things are.
Check moisture of hanging baskets and container plantings daily.
Pick summer squash and zucchini every day or two to keep the plants producing.
Remove old plants which have stopped producing to eliminate a shelter for insects and disease organisms.
Every weed that produces seed means more trouble next year. Control weeds before they go to seed.

ZONE 6

Sow peas in mid to late August for a fall crop.
Start seeds inside for long maturing fall crops like Brussels sprouts, and other heading brassicas.
Continue your bug removal pest damage inspections! Remove and treat as needed.
After the last raspberry harvest for the year, prepare for next year while also avoiding diseases by pruning out old flowering canes leaving only 3-4 young canes per foot of row. Wait until spring to prune back shoot tips.
Avoid pruning trees and shrubs since doing so this late in the season can stimulate new growth that will not harden off in time for the cold winter weather ahead. Delay pruning until the end of the dormant season early next spring.
Harvest onions and garlic as the tops dry and fall over. Braid garlic tops and hang in a cool, dry place. Cut onion tops back to 1" and dry thoroughly before storing. Use any damaged produce immediately.
This is a good time to order and plant spring flowering bulbs for next year's early flower display. Plan for different flowering times to extend the season.
Seeds can again be sown for a late crop of leaf lettuce, mustard greens, Swiss chard and spinach.
Continue deadheading flowers which will allow plants to use energy reserves for a final flower display.
Some perennial flowers and bulbs will start to go dormant this month. Marking their location with a painted popsicle stick or drawing out a map of your bed is helpful come spring so you don’t forget where things are.
Check moisture of hanging baskets and container plantings daily.
Fertilize roses for the last time this year.
Pick summer squash and zucchini every day or two to keep the plants producing.
Remove old plants which have stopped producing to eliminate a shelter for insects and disease organisms.
Every weed that produces seed means more trouble next year. Control weeds before they go to seed.
Sow seeds of biennials, such as hollyhock, Canterbury bells and foxglove.
Dig, divide, and move daylilies after they have completed their bloom.
Dig potatoes after vines have died.
Harvest cantaloupe when the stem separates from the fruit with gentle prodding.
Sow fall cover crop if using.

ZONE 7

Sow peas in mid to late August for a fall crop.
Finish starting seeds inside for fall crops like Brussels sprouts, and other heading brassicas.
Continue your bug removal pest damage inspections! Remove and treat as needed.
After the last raspberry harvest for the year, prepare for next year while also avoiding diseases by pruning out old flowering canes leaving only 3-4 young canes per foot of row. Wait until spring to prune back shoot tips.
Avoid pruning trees and shrubs since doing so this late in the season can stimulate new growth that will not harden off in time for the cold winter weather ahead. Delay pruning until the end of the dormant season early next spring.
This is a good time to order and plant spring flowering bulbs for next year's early flower display. Plan for different flowering times to extend the season.
Seeds can again be sown for a late crop of leaf lettuce, mustard greens, Swiss chard and spinach in the partial shade of taller plants.
When labor day is near direct seed kohlrabi, kale and collards.
Continue deadheading flowers which will allow plants to use energy reserves for a final flower display.
Check moisture of hanging baskets and container plantings daily.
Pick summer squash and zucchini every day or two to keep the plants producing.
Remove old plants which have stopped producing to eliminate a shelter for insects and disease organisms.
Every weed that produces seed means more trouble next year. Control weeds before they go to seed.
Sow seeds of biennials, such as hollyhock, Canterbury bells and foxglove.
Dig potatoes after vines have died.
Harvest cantaloupe when the stem separates from the fruit with gentle prodding.
Sow fall cover crop if using.

ZONE 8

Sow peas in mid to late August for a fall crop.
Finish starting seeds inside for fall crops like Brussels sprouts, and other heading brassicas.
Warmer parts of this zone can plant a fall crop of potatoes, try to get them in by the second week of September.
Continue your bug removal pest damage inspections! Remove and treat as needed.
After the last raspberry harvest for the year, prepare for next year while also avoiding diseases by pruning out old flowering canes leaving only 3-4 young canes per foot of row. Wait until spring to prune back shoot tips.
Avoid pruning trees and shrubs since doing so this late in the season can stimulate new growth that will not harden off in time for the cold winter weather ahead. Delay pruning until the end of the dormant season early next spring.
This is a good time to order spring flowering bulbs for next year's early flower display. Plan for different flowering times to extend the season.
Seeds can again be sown for a late crop of leaf lettuce, mustard greens, Swiss chard, kohlrabi, kale, collardsand spinach in the partial shade of taller plants.
Continue deadheading flowers which will allow plants to use energy reserves for a final flower display.
Check moisture of hanging baskets and container plantings daily.
Harvest vegetables such as beans, peas, squash, cucumbers and okra regularly to prolong production and enjoy peak freshness.
Remove old plants which have stopped producing to eliminate a shelter for insects and disease organisms.
Every weed that produces seed means more trouble next year. Control weeds before they go to seed.
Sow seeds of biennials, such as hollyhock, Canterbury bells and foxglove.
Harvest cantaloupe when the stem separates from the fruit with gentle prodding.
Sow fall cover crop if using.

ZONE 9

The hottest days of summer limit planting now to heat-tolerant annuals, such as coleus, kalanchoe, and vinca.
Bulbs of Aztec lily, butterfly lily, walking iris, and spider lily can be planted any time of the year, even late summer.
Herbs that can be planted from plants (not seeds) include bay laurel, ginger, Mexican tarragon, and rosemary.
Tomatoes, beans, carrots and others can be planted for the fall garden.
Check older palm fronds for yellowing as it may indicate a magnesium or potassium deficiency. Apply an appropriate palm fertilizer.
Solarize the vegetable garden in preparation for fall planting if not done in July.
Pinch back poinsettias and mums before the end of the month to allow time for buds to form for winter bloom.
Fertilize plants that show signs of deficiencies. Rapid growth and leaching rains may result in nutrient deficiencies in some plants.
Some municipalities prohibit the application of fertilizer to lawns and/or landscape plants during the summer rainy season (June–September). See if such an ordinance exists in your area.
Remove spent blooms, cut back, and fertilize flowering annuals and perennials to extend the bloom season into the fall months.

ZONE 10

The hottest days of summer limit planting to heat-tolerant vinca, coleus, salvia, and celosia.
Bulbs of Aztec lily, butterfly lily, walking iris, and spider lily can be planted any time of the year, even late summer.
Herbs that can be planted from plants (not seeds) include bay laurel, ginger, Mexican tarragon, and rosemary.
Start planting eggplant, okra, peppers, pumpkin, squashes, and tomatoes for the fall garden.
Check palms trees older fronds for yellowing as it may indicate a magnesium or potassium deficiency. Apply an appropriate palm fertilizer.
Solarize the vegetable garden for 4–6 weeks in preparation for fall planting if not done in July.
Pinch back poinsettias and mums before the end of the month to allow time for buds to form for winter bloom.
Fertilize those plants that show signs of deficiencies. Rapid growth and leaching rains may result in nutrient deficiencies in some plants.
Numerous municipalities prohibit the application of fertilizer to lawns and/or landscape plants during the summer rainy season (June–September). See if such an ordinance exists in your area.
Remove spent blooms, cut back, and fertilize flowering annuals and perennials to extend the bloom season into the fall months.

	*Article Written by: Angie Lavezzo*
	About the Author: Angie Lavezzo is the former general manager of Sow True Seed. Beyond her professional role at Sow True, Angie's passion for gardening extends into personal hands-on experience, fostering plants and reaping bountiful harvests.