By August, the garden has had time to reveal itself. Plants have filled out, summer color is in full swing, and the spaces that still feel unfinished are much easier to spot. Maybe a garden bed needs more structure. Perhaps your containers have lost some of their early-season energy. Or maybe a bare corner has been quietly asking for a plant all summer.
The good news? The gardening season is far from over.
For Chicagoland gardeners, August is an opportunity to refresh what is already growing, add another wave of seasonal color, and begin preparing for fall planting.
First, Take a Fresh Look
Spring is full of possibilities, but August offers something equally valuable: perspective.
With the garden near its peak seasonal size, you can more easily see which areas are thriving and which ones need a little more attention. Take a walk through your yard and look for open spaces, uneven plant groupings, missing layers, or areas that could use more color.
The Chicago Botanic Garden recommends using August to identify bare spots that may benefit from groundcovers or additional plantings. It is also a helpful time to mark spaces where spring-flowering bulbs could be planted later in the fall.
Before choosing anything new, consider the conditions of the space:
- How much direct sunlight does it receive?
- Does the soil remain moist or dry quickly?
- How much room will the plant have at its mature size?
- Is the area exposed to heat, wind, reflected sunlight, or standing water?
When choosing perennial plants, USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 6a is an important starting point for determining which plants are likely to tolerate our average winter temperatures. However, hardiness is only one part of the equation. Sunlight, soil, moisture, wind exposure, placement, and the unique microclimate of your garden all influence how well a plant performs.
Add a Second Wave of Color
Late summer does not have to mean fading flower beds.
Asters, garden mums, goldenrod, ornamental grasses, and other late-season performers can extend the garden’s color and interest as summer moves toward fall. Keep in mind that some greenhouse-grown mums may not be winter-hardy, so check the variety before treating them as permanent additions to the garden.
When adding something new, match the plant to its intended location. Consider its sunlight and moisture needs, drainage requirements, mature size, and winter-hardiness rating. Even plants sold under the same common name may include species or cultivars with different growing requirements.
Our team can help you find plants suited to your space, your garden goals, and your property’s growing conditions.
Give Containers a Midseason Reset
August can be challenging for container gardens. Heat, limited soil volume, frequent watering, and months of active growth can leave early-season combinations looking leggy or tired.
Start by removing damaged foliage and spent plants. Some annuals can be trimmed back to create a tidier appearance and encourage fresh growth. Any open spaces can then be refreshed with healthy annuals or foliage plants that complement the remaining arrangement.
Containers dry more quickly than in-ground garden beds and should be monitored regularly. Check the soil rather than relying on a fixed watering schedule. When the top inch or so of the potting mix feels dry, water thoroughly until excess water drains from the bottom of the container. During especially hot, dry weather, containers in full sun may need to be checked more than once a day.
Avoid allowing containers to remain waterlogged. Adequate drainage is just as important as adequate moisture because plant roots also need oxygen.
Begin Thinking About Fall Planting
August is not automatically the best time to plant every tree, shrub, or perennial. Early August can still bring intense heat and limited rainfall, placing additional stress on newly installed plants.
Container-grown trees and shrubs can be planted during summer, but successful establishment requires careful and consistent watering. For many trees and shrubs, the more favorable fall planting period in the Chicago region begins around mid-August and continues through mid-October. Cooler air temperatures and warm soil can encourage root development while reducing some of the heat stress placed on new plants.
However, not every species establishes equally well in fall. The Morton Arboretum recommends spring planting for several slower-to-establish plants, including magnolia, hemlock, ginkgo, tuliptree, willow, rhododendron, and yew. Plant condition, weather, planting method, and the individual site should all be considered before installation.
That is why August can be both a planting month and a planning month. Even when conditions are not yet right for a particular plant, you can begin selecting materials, mapping out spaces, and preparing for the weeks ahead.
Water New Plants Where It Matters
Anything installed during late summer or fall will need continued attention after it leaves the nursery.
New trees and shrubs have limited root systems, so water must reach the original root ball as well as the surrounding soil. Checking the root ball directly is more reliable than assuming rainfall or a damp soil surface has supplied enough moisture. Newly planted trees, shrubs, perennials, and vines should receive priority during periods of hot or dry weather.
A layer of mulch can help conserve soil moisture, moderate soil temperatures, and suppress weeds. Apply it evenly around the root zone while keeping it away from trunks and plant stems. Avoid piling mulch against the base of a tree.
How often you need to water will depend on the plant, soil type, recent rainfall, temperature, drainage, and exposure. Check the soil regularly and adjust according to its actual moisture level rather than watering automatically.
There Is Still More to Grow
August is not the conclusion of the garden’s story. It is a chance to look again.
Refresh a container. Bring color to a quiet corner. Find the plant that adds the missing layer. Or start planning a tree, shrub, or perennial addition for the approaching fall planting season.
Throughout August, enjoy 25% off in-stock retail purchases during our Annual Customer Appreciation Sale, taking place August 1 through August 31, 2026.
*While supplies last. Some exclusions may apply.
The garden is not finished yet. It is simply ready for its next possibility.
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