August Planting Guide

Bedding Plants

    For late-summer color, continue to plant heat-tolerant bedding plants available at Gene's Greenhouses.

Bugs 

     Hot, dry weather is ideal for chinch bug damage to show up on lawns, particularly in St. Augustine grass. Treat if needed with lawn insecticides. 

General Maintenance

     Begin to order spring-flowering bulbs from catalogs for delivery in October.  If you need to, dig and divide Louisiana irises, acanthus, Easter lilies and calla lilies this month and in September. 

Palms

    Palms can be planted through August, since they establish best when planted into warm soil. Select hardier palms, such as cabbage palm, windmill palm, jelly palm, Mediterranean fan palm, Canary Island date palm, palmetto and needle palm. Keep them well-watered during their period of getting established.

Pruning

     Prune ever-blooming roses back about one-third their height in late August or early September. This pruning prepares the roses for the outstanding blooming season in October, November and early December. 

Vegetables

    Vegetables to plant in August include broccoli, Brussels sprouts, bunching onions, cabbage, cauliflower, Swiss chard, Chinese cabbage, collards, cucumbers, lima beans, mustard, snap beans, Southern peas, shallots, squash and turnips. Plant transplants of bell peppers, tomatoes and eggplants by mid-August.