Look for celosia, salvias, coreopsis, rudbeckia and coneflower. For sun containers, popular options are succulents including agave, yucca and kalanchoe.
Some good candidates to plant now include hydrangeas, daylilies, lilies, sedums, ornamental grasses, peonies, and bearded iris. Just be sure you keep your new plants well watered if the weather is hot and dry. Mulching the beds also helps preserve soil moisture.
Aster. These beautiful perennials start to bloom in late August to late September. Available in shades of purples and blues, they make a great contrast to autumn décor such as bright orange pumpkins and gourds. They're also a great late season treat for pollinators.
For this Blooming Period, we're highlighting some late summer/fall favorites: callas; China asters; lisianthus; perennial sunflowers; and zinnias.
Mid- to late-August is often an excellent time to plant fall flowers, as long as the weather isn't still so hot that the plants will suffer heat stress. But don't wait too late to plant, or you'll have a very short window to enjoy your flowers. Check the growing requirements for each plant.
Vegetables that can be planted in August include leafy greens such as lettuce, spinach, collards, kale and mustard. Radishes, turnips, beets and carrots can all be started from seeds in August.
August is an ideal time to plant seeds for a second gardening season that can be as productive as your major early spring plantings. Late summer is perfect for a delicious fall vegetable and herb harvest.
In fact, many plants — such as spring bulbs and perennials — need to be planted in the late summer or early fall months, depending on your zone, in order to generate enough energy to bloom in the spring. Not to mention, it's never too late to add some colorful annuals to your outdoor space!
A: It's not too late! You can transplant perennials anytime until the ground freezes in the fall, or wait to transplant them in the spring.
While spring may be the most common season to tend to your flower garden, that doesn't mean you can't grow something beautiful this fall! August is often the perfect time to start planting because it encourages root growth in the soil before things start freezing, giving your garden a head start for the spring.
Verbena (Family Verbenaceae)
Verbena is a great container garden plant for the sun because it will flower all summer long and even into the fall. As a bonus, verbenas are great for attracting butterflies. These profuse bloomers are extremely forgiving and come in a wide range of colors.
Look for celosia, salvias, coreopsis, rudbeckia and coneflower. For sun containers, popular options are succulents including agave, yucca and kalanchoe. While you're at it, don't forget to shop indoors—in the houseplant section.
Get creative with seasonal favorites such as mums, flowering kale, and pansies, or play with dynamic combinations of annuals, perennials, and grasses that also make excellent fall container plants.
This method encourages the plants' roots to reach deeply for residual water, even when the surface of the soil appears dry. The standard rule of thumb is to give your flowers and vegetables the equivalent of at 1 inch of water per week (and as much as double that amount in the peak of summer).
A: In Southern California, it's never too late to plant rosebushes. The popular “Iceberg” roses are super hardy and will rebloom without constant deadheading. They are also available in pink and burgundy flowered varieties. If you want to plant any perennials, it's a good idea to do it sooner rather than later.
The latest time to plant for most vegetables would be the second week in June with a short harvest time. If planting crops that mature within 50 days, you could plant those as late as the last week in June, but keep in mind the weather will be turning cooler, especially at night. Cool crops are best for late plantings.
August is an ideal time for gardeners to give their plants a boost into the later stages of growth. Many people who are just learning how to garden at home overlook the benefits of fertilizing their plants.
Fall is a good time for developing tomatoes because the cooler temperatures allow for better fruit set and insect problems diminish. Mid-July to the end of August is the ideal time to plant. When choosing your fall tomatoes, make sure you know if you're selecting a Determinate or Indeterminate type.
Planting a Late-Season Garden
Probably not! There are many crops you can plant well into summer (as late as mid-late August) and still harvest a sizable amount of food.
Just about anything growing in a container can be planted in summer, though some plants stand up to summer's heat better than others.