Introduction

August is a busy month for gardeners in the western United States. The weather is hot and dry, so it’s important to irrigate your plants regularly. You’ll also need to keep an eye out for pests and diseases. But with a little care, you can enjoy a bountiful harvest of fruits and vegetables in August.

Harvesting

One of the best things about August is the abundance of fresh fruits and vegetables. Tomatoes, cucumbers, beans, peas, and melons are all ripening this month. Be sure to harvest them regularly to keep the plants producing.

To harvest tomatoes, gently twist them off the vine. Cucumbers can be harvested when they are about 6 inches long. Beans and peas should be picked when the pods are plump and the seeds are fully developed. Melons are ripe when they are heavy and the rind is slightly soft.

Planting

August is also a good time to plant a winter garden. Winter gardens can provide you with fresh produce all winter long. Some good choices for winter gardens in the West include:

• Beets
• Broccoli
• Brussels sprouts
• Cabbage
• Cauliflower
• Celery
• Chard
• Endive
• Escarole
• Garlic
• Kale
• Kohlrabi
• Leeks
• Onions
• Parsley
• Peas
• Radishes

When planting your winter garden, be sure to choose a location that gets plenty of sun. You’ll also need to amend the soil with compost or manure to improve drainage and fertility.

Irrigation

Irrigation is essential for gardening in the West, especially during the hot summer months. The best time to water your plants is early in the morning or late in the evening. This will help to prevent the water from evaporating too quickly.

When watering your plants, be sure to soak the soil deeply. This will encourage the roots to grow deep into the ground, where they can access more water and nutrients.

Pest and Disease Control

Pests and diseases can be a problem for gardeners in the West. Some common pests include aphids, spider mites, and whiteflies. Common diseases include powdery mildew, blight, and rust.

There are a number of organic methods you can use to control pests and diseases. These methods include:

• Using insecticidal soap or neem oil to kill pests
• Applying a baking soda solution to prevent powdery mildew
• Using a copper fungicide to treat blight and rust

Conclusion

Gardening in the Western United States in August can be a challenge, but it’s also a rewarding experience. By following these tips, you can enjoy a bountiful harvest of fruits and vegetables all season long.

Summer’s Best Plants

August can be a tough time for gardens, but there are plenty of plants that thrive in the heat and humidity. Here are some of our favorites:

• Cleome hassleriana ‘Violet Queen’: Also known as spider flower, this half-hardy annual adds height, color, and a touch of the exotic to your garden.
• Loganberries: These delicious berries are self-fertile, so you only need one plant to enjoy a sweet and tangy summer treat.
• Berkheya purpurea: This drought-tolerant perennial produces masses of lilac blooms that attract pollinators.
• Hydrangea ‘Annabelle’: With showy flowerheads up to 30cm wide, this hydrangea is a classic choice for summer gardens.
• Musa basjoo: Also known as the Japanese banana, this tropical plant can add an exotic touch to your garden with its huge paddle-shaped leaves.

Long-Blooming Beauties

• Rudbeckia subtomentosa ‘Henry Eilers’: This perennial coneflower is a statuesque plant with long-lasting yellow flowers.
• Sanguisorba hakusanensis ‘Lilac Squirrel’: The tassel-like pink flowers of this hardy perennial are sure to turn heads.
• Penstemon ‘Pensham Just Jayne’: This penstemon blooms non-stop for months, attracting bees and other pollinators.
• Dahlia ‘Bishop of Dover’: With its mauve-striped white petals, this dahlia is a showstopper in any garden.
• Zinnia elegans ‘Early Wonder’: These vibrant zinnias are easy to grow from seed and will add a burst of color to your garden.

Versatile Thyme

• Thymus pulegioides: Also known as broad-leaved thyme, this herb is not only fragrant but also has a great flavor.

Whether you’re looking for show-stopping blooms, unusual delights, or plants that will attract pollinators, there’s something for everyone in our August garden picks.

Summer in the garden can be a long and vibrant season, but keeping your borders looking their best can be a challenge. Don’t despair if your early summer blooms have faded—there are plenty of perennials that will flower all the way through late summer and into autumn, giving your garden a boost of color and interest.

Choosing the Right Plants for Long-Lasting Colour

When choosing plants for late summer colour, there are a few things to keep in mind:

• Flowering time: Look for plants that flower from midsummer to late autumn.
• Height and spread: Consider the height and spread of the plants you choose to ensure they fit well in your borders.
• Growing conditions: Make sure the plants you choose are suited to your soil and light conditions.

Top Plants for Late Summer Colour

Here are some of the best perennials for adding a splash of colour to your garden in late summer:

Verbena bonariensis

With its tall, airy stems and clusters of purple flowers, Verbena bonariensis is a favorite among gardeners and pollinators alike. It’s a great choice for adding height and movement to a border.

Rudbeckia fulgida

Also known as black-eyed Susan, Rudbeckia fulgida produces cheerful yellow flowers from midsummer to autumn. It’s a popular choice for sunny borders and combines well with other late-blooming plants like helenium and Japanese anemones.

Hylotelephium (Sedum)

Sedums are hardy succulents with fleshy leaves and flat-topped clusters of pink, white, or purple flowers. They’re a great choice for adding texture and interest to a border, and their rigid stems last well into winter.

Geranium ‘Rozanne’

Geranium ‘Rozanne’ is a vigorous groundcover with lavender blue flowers that bloom all summer long. It’s a low-maintenance plant that’s perfect for adding colour to the front of a border or spilling over a path.

Salvia yangii (Russian Sage)

Russian sage is a drought-tolerant plant with attractive silver-grey foliage and tall spires of violet blue flowers. It’s a great choice for hot, sunny conditions and will flower for months on end.

Aster pyrenaeus ‘Lutetia’

Asters are a classic late summer bloomer, and Aster pyrenaeus ‘Lutetia’ is a particularly showy variety. It produces masses of lilac-blue daisy-like flowers over several weeks in sun or part shade.

Japanese Anemones

Japanese anemones are shade-loving plants with large, saucer-shaped flowers in a range of colors from white to purple. They bloom from late summer to early autumn and are a great choice for adding a touch of elegance to a shady border.

Astrantia

Astrantias are unusual and beautiful plants with cupped-shaped bracts that surround a cluster of tiny flowers. They flower from early to mid-summer, but if conditions remain cool, they will often produce a second flush of blooms in late summer.

Helenium ‘Sahin’s Early Flowerer’

Heleniums are known for their fiery orange and yellow flowers. ‘Sahin’s Early Flowerer’ is a particularly early-blooming variety that starts flowering in midsummer and continues until September.

Nepeta racemosa ‘Walker’s Low’

Catmints are known for their soft, grey-green leaves and spikes of violet blue flowers. ‘Walker’s Low’ is a compact variety that’s perfect for edging a border or spilling over a path.

Planting and Care Tips

• Plant your late-flowering perennials in well-drained soil in a location that receives plenty of sunlight.
• Water your plants regularly, especially during hot, dry weather.
• Deadhead faded flowers to encourage new blooms.
• Cut back your plants in late autumn or early spring to remove any dead or damaged growth.

With a little planning and care, you can enjoy a beautiful and colourful garden all summer long.

Introduction

Perennial plants are a great choice for gardeners because they come back year after year. They come in a wide variety of colors, shapes, and sizes, and they can add beauty and interest to your garden all season long. However, not all perennials bloom for the same amount of time. Some only bloom for a few weeks, while others can bloom for months. If you want to have a garden that is full of color all summer long, it is important to choose perennials that have a long blooming period.

Choosing Perennials for Summer

When choosing perennials for your summer garden, there are a few things to keep in mind. First, consider the amount of sunlight your garden gets. Some perennials prefer full sun, while others can tolerate partial shade or even full shade. Second, think about the size and shape of the plants you want. Some perennials are small and compact, while others can grow quite large. Finally, consider the color and bloom time of the plants. You want to choose perennials that will bloom at different times throughout the summer so that you always have something in bloom.

Long-Lasting Perennials for Summer Gardens

There are many different perennials that bloom all summer long. Some of the most popular choices include:

• Spiderwort: This is a tuberous plant that will multiply and spread to fill in a space. The flowers are generally purple to blue or magenta, and bloom each afternoon through the late summer.
• Astilbe: This is a great choice for long-lasting blooms in a shady spot. It produces pretty foliage, reminiscent of ferns, as well as feathery flowers that may be white, red, or pink.
• Stella d’Oro daylily: This is a popular variety of daylily because unlike most others, it re-blooms. The flower stalks are shorter than those of other daylilies, but they will produce pretty golden yellow flowers over and over again.
• Double hollyhock: These Alcea hybrids grow up to 7 feet (2 m.) tall, thrive in full sun, and will give you large, show-stopping yellow, pink, or red flowers.
• Clematis: This is a climbing flower that blooms all season long. It produces colorful flowers and likes to be in the sun, but grows best with the roots in the shade.
• Purple coneflower: Also known as Echinacea, purple coneflower is a tall perennial that produces light purple flowers. You can expect to get the flowers throughout the summer and into fall.
• Black-eyed Susan: Similar to coneflower, black-eyed Susan produces blooms in the summer and into the fall. They grow tall and bloom in deep golden yellow with dark brown centers.
• Shasta daisy: With evergreen foliage in many areas and cheery summer blooms, you basically cannot go wrong with Shasta daisy plants. Keep them deadheaded and they will reward you with continual flowers on up into early autumn.

Creating a Summer Garden with Continuous Blooms

Once you have chosen the perennials for your summer garden, it is time to start planning how you will arrange them. You want to create a garden that is visually appealing and that has something in bloom all season long. Here are a few tips for creating a summer garden with continuous blooms:

• Plant perennials in groups: Planting perennials in groups will create a more dramatic effect and will help to attract pollinators.
• Use a variety of colors and textures: When choosing perennials for your summer garden, be sure to use a variety of colors and textures. This will create a more interesting and visually appealing garden.
• Plant perennials that bloom at different times: To ensure that you always have something in bloom in your summer garden, plant perennials that bloom at different times throughout the season.
• Deadhead spent flowers: Deadheading spent flowers will encourage the plants to produce more flowers.

Conclusion

With a little planning, you can create a summer garden that is full of color and beauty all season long. By choosing perennials that have a long blooming period and planting them in groups, you can create a garden that is both visually appealing and attractive to pollinators.

Summer is the best time to enjoy your garden, and what better way to do that than with beautiful flowers that bloom all season long? Here are eight of the best summer flowering plants that will keep your garden looking its best from June to September and beyond:

Hardy Geraniums

Hardy geraniums are easy-to-grow perennials that will bloom all summer and into autumn. They come in a variety of colors and can grow in both sun and shade.

Erigeron Karvinskianus

Erigeron karvinskianus is a spreading, perennial daisy that’s perfect for planting in the crevices of walls, steps, and paving stones. It blooms profusely all summer and well into autumn, and it prefers well-drained soil in full sun or partial shade.

Abutilons

Abutilons are tropical plants that will bloom year-round if they are protected from frost. They prefer a sunny position with plenty of water and fertilizer.

Campanulas

Creeping campanulas, like Campanula poscharskyana, are ideal for growing in cracks and crevices. They bloom all summer and are popular with pollinators.

Iberis Sempervirens

Iberis sempervirens, also known as candytuft, is a low-growing perennial that’s perfect for ground cover or containers. It blooms profusely from spring to autumn.

Potentilla

Potentillas are compact shrubs or herbaceous perennials that are well-suited to growing in hedges or borders. They bloom all summer long and respond well to deadheading.

Sweet Peas

Sweet peas are popular annuals that can begin flowering as early as May. They will continue to bloom all summer and into autumn if they are deadheaded or cut for bouquets.

Perennial Wallflowers

Perennial wallflowers, like Erysimum ‘Bowles’s Mauve’, bloom all summer and may even flower year-round in mild climates. Deadheading spent flower spikes will encourage plants to produce more blooms.

Tips for Growing Summer Flowers

• Deadhead spent flowers to encourage new blooms.
• Fertilize your plants weekly with a tomato fertilizer to promote growth and flowering.
• Provide adequate water, especially during hot and dry weather.
• Choose plants that are well-suited to your climate and growing conditions.