To Do in the Garden: August 2025

Gary Crispell, NC State Extension Master Gardener^SM volunteer of Durham County

August. Can’t be much worse than July this year—unless the rain stops altogether. Now, I prefer hazy, hot, and humid, but this is carrying things a bit too far. When my parents lived in Arizona, my mother would brag about their “dry heat.” I’m here to tell you, 110°F and above is hot. Wet, dry, in between – it doesn’t matter. It is HOT

The Accidental Cottage Garden is adapting to climate change by rearranging its bloom schedule. Bloom times are arriving earlier than “the book” indicates. My personal observations (and “scientific” estimation) are that everything has been about three weeks ahead of “the book” ever since March. The increase in temperature – especially nighttime temps – combined with generous (sometimes excessive) rainfall has pushed bloom times forward.

The ACG already looks like mid to late August (read: very sad). A group of Extension Master Gardener volunteers came to the garden to practice photographing plants and blossoms. Unfortunately, many of the most beautiful models had already retired for the season. Not that those remaining are ugly or anything – just that the best display was over three weeks ago. It happens.

Close-up of a wilted Hibiscus flower, showing faded pink petals against a blurred green background.

Close-up of withering black-eyed Susan flowers (_Rudbeckia fulgida_) showing a central brown seed head surrounded by dried yellow petals.

The sad summer garden, worn down by excessive heat and humidity. Left: a droopy Hibiscus sp. (Image credit Jimmi Lazuli) Right: scorched Rudbeckia fulgida. (Image credit: Javin Griffin)

They did get to practice on blanket flower (Gaillardia pulchella), a few black-eyed Susans (Rudbeckia fulgida), and a butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa). The balloon flower (Platycodon grandiflorus) is blooming for the second time (‘cause I thwarted its need to seed by removing the spent blooms the first time around). There’s been a bumper crop of purple coneflowers (Echinacea purpurea) and approximately 12,684 evening primroses (Oenothera biennis). WARNING: If you plant one of these, be sure to remove the stems before they go to seed. (Sorry, dry-stemophiles.)

Close-up of Gaillardia pulchella (blanket flower) in bloom, with a dried stalk in the foreground.

Close-up of a pink Echinacea flower, showcasing its petals and central cone, with additional Echinacea blooms blurred in the background.

Close-up of yellow evening primrose flowers (_Oenothera biennis_), showcasing their vibrant petals and green foliage.

Toward the end of summer. the garden is tired but still productive. Top three images, from left to right: Gaillardia pulchella, Echinacea purpurea, (Image credit: Javin Griffin) and Platycodon grandiflorus. (Image credit: Jimmi Lazuli)
Below center: Be careful with this native but aggressive beauty – Oenothera biennis, or evening primrose. It will take over your garden if you let it. (Image credit: Plant Toolbox, Andreas Rockstein, CC BY-SA 4.0)C BY-SA 4.0)

That leaves two of my three goldenrods (which I purchased at the Spring Plant Sale): sweet goldenrod (Solidago odora) and early goldenrod (S. juncea), African marigolds (Tagetes erecta), and a lone false vervain (Verbena hastata) to help keep the ACG beautiful.

A vibrant display of orange marigold flowers (_Tagetes erecta_) standing tall among a colorful assortment of other blooming plants in a garden.

A field of blooming purple vervain (Verbena hastata) with slender stems and small flowers, set against a green landscape.

Strong contenders for a sweltering summer garden. From left to right: African marigold (Tagetes erecta), purple or false vervain (Verbena hastata), and orange butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa). (Image credit: Marcia Kirinus)

Okay, okay. I know. It’s a long intro, but the calendar itself is not complicated this month. Therefore, this post won’t take any longer to read than normal. Besides, what were you going to do when the outside temperature is in the triple digits anyway?

LAWN CARE

Scope out the lawn for grubs. Treat ’em if you find ’em. Otherwise, leave the sprayer hanging in the shed. Late in the month, you can prepare areas that need to be seeded with cool-season grass (fescue, Kentucky bluegrass).

FERTILIZING

If you have strawberries, hit them with a little nitrogen. Do not fertilize trees or shrubbery again until December.

PLANTING

If you’re a start-’em-from-seed kind of person, then by all means—get to it. Sow pansy seeds in flats to be set out in September. Perennials like hollyhock (Alcea rosea), larkspur (Delphinium elatum and friends), and Stokes’ aster (Stokesia laevis) can be sown now for a jump on healthy spring plants.

A lush garden bed overflowing with various leafy greens, including kale, collard greens, and romaine lettuce.

A vibrant cluster of purple and white pansy flowers in a lush green garden setting.

Sow seeds of these cool-season fall crops now to enjoy a harvest later. Left: various greens, including kale, lettuce, arugula, Swiss chard, and bok choy. Right: violets. (Image credit: Marcia Kirinus)

Plant a fall garden. Root crops (e.g., beets, turnips, rutabagas, and radishes) are good to plant now, as are many salad greens (e.g., Chinese cabbage, kale, lettuce, arugula, and mustard). Other fast-growing veggies that are fine to plant now include squash and cucumbers. That should keep you in fresh produce until after Thanksgiving.

PRUNING

Fuhgeddaboudit. No more pruning until the end of November. You get a pass if a hurricane—not associated with PNC Arena—pays a visit.

SPRAYING

Same stuff as last month. Look for spider mites on coniferous evergreens (juniper, arborvitae, Leyland cypress, etc.), lace bugs on azaleas and pyracantha, and aphids on anything green. Maintain your spray programs for roses, fruit trees, and bunch grapes. Watch for worms on cruciferous vegetables (cabbages, broccoli, cauliflower, etc.) and borers on squash. Only spray when necessary—and always follow the directions on the label.

PROPAGATION

It’s still okay to take cuttings of shrubbery.

AND IF YOU JUST CAN’T GET ENOUGH OF THE AUGUST HEAT

Check over your landscape plan (I just know you have one) so you’ll be ready for the fall planting season. If (when?) the August thunderstorms skip your yard, try not to run the well dry—or seriously deplete Lake Michie or Little River Reservoir. You could build a compost bin. Dig Irish potatoes. (I dig ’em roasted with olive oil and tarragon.) Stay cool and hydrated. October is only two months away!

Additional Resources

Gardening for Climate Change – National Wildlife Federation
Tips and strategies for building resilient gardens that support wildlife and adapt to a changing climate.
Cool-Season Crops for Vegetable Gardens (Part 1) – NC Cooperative Extension Slide Deck (PDF)
A helpful presentation on choosing and growing fall crops like leafy greens, brassicas, and root vegetables.
Successful Summer Vegetable Gardens – NC Cooperative Extension Handout (PDF)
A guide to managing vegetable gardens through hot North Carolina summers.
Drought-Tolerant Summer Bloomers – NC Plant Toolbox
Explore low-maintenance, heat- and drought-tolerant plants that thrive in summer.
Starting Cool-Season Spring Flowers This Fall
Learn which flowers to sow in fall for an early spring display.
“Garden Veggies Year Round: One Gardener’s Calendar” on our blog

Edited by Marcia Kirinus, NC State Extension Master Gardener^SM volunteer of Durham County

Article Short Link: https://wp.me/p2nIr1-6cT

To Do in the Garden: July 2025

On July 2, 2025July 2, 2025 By durhammastergardenersIn Accidental Cottage Garden, garden tasks, gardening NC, monthly garden tasks

Gary Crispell, NC State Extension Master Gardener^SM volunteer of Durham County

It’s July, Y’all, but you already knew that ‘cause you look at your phone 5 times an hour and it flipped over like a week ago. July in the Piedmont of North Carolina means HOT, HUMID, and P.M. thunderstorms. The first two are absolute locks, but the third? Not so much. June certainly was a harbinger. It was freakin’ HOT at the end. The consolation was the ~4” of rain.

The Accidental Cottage Garden (ACG) is looking downright bountiful for the pollinators. There are many iterations of blackeyed-susans (Rudbeckia fulgida). Some are the regular yellow petals and dark centers. Others have yellow and brown or yellow and maroon petals with dark centers and the petals are larger. The purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) has exploded all through the garden. They are a favorite here as they not only provide a summer long floral display, but in the fall the gold finches feast on the seed heads (hence the profusion throughout the garden).

A close-up of a vibrant yellow black-eyed Susan flower with dark center petals, surrounded by green foliage.

Purple coneflowers (Echinacea purpurea) in full bloom, with vibrant pink petals and distinctive orange centers, surrounded by green foliage.

Rudbeckia fulgida and Echinacea purpurea can provide an abundance of flowers to enjoy through the summer heat once they are established. (Image credit: Lucy Bradley CC BY 4.0; Cathy Dewitt CC BY 4.0)

The liatris (L. spicata) may need to relocate. His neighbor, the peony (P.) has usurped much of what used to be her space. The “Star Gazer” lily (Lilium x ‘Star Gazer’) has more blooms this year than ever before and is spectacular. Similarly, the balloon flower (Platycodon grandiflorus) is loaded with blooms. We’ve been pruning out the spent blooms to encourage a second round. There are several daylily varieties (Hemerocallis spp.). There are so many varieties, and we’ve had them long enough that I no longer remember their names (except the one named Bob). The accompanying shrubs, Limelight hydrangea (H. panniculata ‘Limelight’), butterfly bush (Buddleia davidii), and Knockout rose (Rosa x Radazz) complete the neighborhood’s floral display.

A vibrant cluster of Liatris spicata flowers, showcasing tall purple blooms surrounded by green grass-like foliage.

Close-up of a vibrant purple balloon flower (Platycodon grandiflorus) in bloom, showcasing its star-shaped petals and delicate inner structure.

Liatris spicata and Platycodon grandiflorus are in full bloom at the cottage garden waiting to be enjoyed by all visitors (human and pollinators). (Image credit: Hedwig Storch CC BY-SA 3.0; Cathy DewittCC BY-NC-ND 4.0)

OK, perhaps I have blathered long enough. Time to slather on the sunscreen, douse ourselves in insect repellent, and sally forth into your garden.

Lawn Care

Fertilize warm season grasses (Bermuda, St. Augustine, zoysia) now if you haven’t done so yet. Mow these grasses by removing no more than 1/3 of the total length. Mow cool season grasses no lower than 3”-4”.

Fertilizing

Last chance to fertilize landscape plants until 2026. It is an excellent time to take FREE SOIL TESTS. Boxes for the samples and instruction sheets are available from the Extension Office at 721 Foster Street, Durham. They are only free until the end of November.

Planting

It is not too late (nor too early, for that matter) to plant pumpkins, broccoli, beans, collards, brussels sprouts, carrots from seed and tomato plants. Get a jump on the fall garden season by starting cruciferous veggies (cabbage, cauliflower, etc.) in seed starter flats to be transplanted to the garden in mid-August.

Pot up or transplant overgrown house plants. Set them outside in a shade to part sun location if possible. They will thoroughly enjoy the summer vacation. Don’t forget to keep them watered.

Pruning

Trees that bleed a lot when cut (E.g. birch, maple, dogwood, elm) can be pruned this month. Cut way back those overgrown landscape plants and hedges. August will be too late. Coniferous plants (produce seeds in cones) can be lightly pruned now. Keep garden mums (Chrysanthemum sps.) pinched back until mid-month for fall blooms. Blackberry and raspberry fruiting canes can be cut back right after the last blackberry cobbler of the year. To promote a second blooming of perennials, prune the spent blooms before they set seeds.

Spraying

Be on the lookout for these nefarious characters, bag worms (pick off the bags and destroy them as ever you will. I thoroughly smush them.), leaf miners (try to take away their little headlamps so they won’t be able to see where they are going), spider mites (really tiny, look for telltale webs on undersides of the leaves), lace bugs, Japanese beetles (a soak in soapy water leaves them clean…and dead.), and the ubiquitous aphids. If you shot them with soapy water they will react just like the Japanese beetles—but not like the English kind who seemed to enjoy warm soapy water.

A bagworm larva built from twigs attached to a branch, typical in its cocoon-like appearance.

Close-up image of a plant stem showing distinctive nodes and growth patterns, with arrows pointing to specific features.

Bagworms can feed on many plant species but are most common on conifers such as Leyland cypress, arborvitae, cedar, juniper, and pine. (L) Mature bagworm in protective coating; (R) Damage on a Juniper tree from encircling bagworms. (Image credit: Entomology notes, NCSU Extension).

If you use toxic chemicals read the label and follow the instructions. Be alert for tomato blight and treat with a fungicide as necessary. Keep up with the perpetual spray programs for roses, fruit trees, and bunch grapes. Veggie pests that are voraciously trying to destroy your crop this month include cucumber beetles (on guess what), flea beetles (not on fleas) on tomatoes, beans, and eggplants, and aphids on anything they can get their sucky little mouth parts into.

OTHER BASICALLY NON-MANDITORY THINGS WITH WHICH TO WILE AWAY JULY

If you are truly bored you may build cold frames or a greenhouse in preparation for the winter to come (and it will). I’m thinking I might just go park my…self in the back yard under the gardenia (G. jasminoides) with a cold beverage and luxuriate in the heavenly odoriferousness of the wonderfully white blooms while I listen to the indigenous wildlife communicate with each other. It’s quite stress relieving. Again, it’s July in North Carolina. Adapt and enjoy.