August is Tea Month at Blackcreek Nursery!
One of our specialties are Camellia sinensis Tea Plants. Did you know you can grow your own green, black, and oolong tea right from your garden? Tea Plants were grown on our site long before there was a Blackcreek Nursery – as a matter of interest, it’s part of the reason we decided to open our retail in 2021.
We provide classes during the year on growing and making your own tea. Stay tuned; hopefully when the weather cools just a bit, we’ll be scheduling some workshops!
Gardening Tips for Maximizing Your August Garden
As the summer heat settles in, it’s time to roll up your sleeves and tend to your garden. August is a crucial month for maintenance—keeping your plants thriving in the heat while preparing for the transition into fall. Here are some helpful tips to keep your garden flourishing through the rest of the season.
August Growing Tips
1. Water Wisely
With soaring temperatures, proper watering is more important than ever. Water deeply and infrequently to encourage strong root growth. Aim for early mornings or late evenings to reduce evaporation, and focus water at the base of your plants to help prevent disease.
2. Mulch for Moisture
Mulching helps retain soil moisture, suppress weeds, and keep roots cool. Add a layer of pine straw, bark, or wood chips around your plants to make the most of every drop of water.
3. Fertilize for Growth
Give your garden a gentle nutrient boost this month. Use a balanced, slow-release fertilizer or organic compost, especially for heavy producers like tomatoes, peppers, and squash.
4. Prune and Deadhead
Keep your flowers blooming by removing spent blooms and trimming back leggy growth. For shrubs like hydrangeas (except panicles), blueberries, and blackberries, prune soon after flowering—before they set buds for next year.
5. Save Seeds
Many favorite flowers like zinnias, cosmos, rudbeckia, basil, and coneflowers can be harvested for seed. When blooms fade, snip them off and dry them in labeled paper bags. Store them in a cool, dry spot to replant next season.
6. Keep Weeds Under Control
With all the heat and summer rains, weeds can seem unstoppable in August! Stay on top of them before they take over your beds and steal moisture and nutrients from your plants.
Whenever possible, use earth-friendly weed control methods. Here are a few effective, non-toxic options:
Hand-pull weeds after a rain when roots release easily
Use natural mulch to suppress weed growth
Try boiling water on sidewalk or driveway cracks
Apply corn gluten meal to prevent new seeds from germinating
Spot treat with a vinegar-based herbicide or citrus oil spray
Avoid chemical weed killers that can harm pollinators, soil health, and nearby plants—especially in edible gardens.
7. Watch for Pests
August is peak season for pests like aphids, spider mites, and caterpillars. Keep an eye out and use organic controls like neem oil, insecticidal soap, or beneficial insects to manage outbreaks early.
8. Harvest Regularly
Enjoy the fruits of your labor! Harvest vegetables often to encourage more production and avoid overripening. Fresh-picked produce tastes better and supports continued plant growth.
9. Protect Pollinators
Butterflies, bees, and other helpful insects are hard at work this month. Avoid using dust-type insecticides, which can harm pollinators on contact. Instead, choose pollinator-safe options like neem oil or diatomaceous earth—and always read the label. Don’t forget to offer them water: a shallow bowl, small fountain, or water garden helps keep them hydrated!
10. Plan for Fall
Start seeds for cool-season crops like kale, lettuce, and broccoli. Get them going in a shaded area, or indoors so they’re ready to plant in late summer. And while you’re out in the heat—take care of yourself, too! Wear a hat, take breaks, and stay hydrated.
11. Plant Perennials
August is the perfect time to snag blooming perennials that weren’t available in spring. These will establish roots before winter and bring color and pollinators to your garden next year. Look for buddleia, black-eyed Susan, lantana, and more—but don’t forget to keep them well-watered while the heat lasts!
