![Monthly Gardening Checklist](/sites/default/files/styles/hero/public/2023/03/29/banner_monthly_checklist_4.jpg?itok=P2BCXD_5)
![Monthly Gardening Checklist](/sites/default/files/styles/hero/public/2023/03/29/banner_monthly_checklist_4.jpg?itok=P2BCXD_5)
The Chicago Botanic Garden has 385 acres of nature, beauty, and respite to discover.
Members: 8 a.m. – 10 a.m.
Public: 10 a.m. – 8 p.m.
8 a.m. – 7 p.m.
10 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Water judiciously
Mulch matters
Scout for next season
Look for insect damage
Water young trees
and shrubs
Look for signs of scorch
Avoid pruning
To deadhead or not
Lily TLC
Boost the fall garden
Divide peonies
Fertilize roses
Monitor water levels
Deadhead petunias
Fertilize plants
Fruit, Vegetable,
and Herb Care
Harvesting vegetables
Lettuce refresh
Plant for fall
Disease or insect problems
Tend to herbs
August’s warm weather provides an opportune time for Chicago-area gardeners to enjoy their efforts, whether it’s admiring the flowers lavishly blooming in the yard, or collecting the bounty of herbs and vegetables ready for harvesting. Maintenance tasks continue. With autumn on the horizon, August also is the month to begin planting cool-season vegetables.
Water judiciously
In August, prolonged hot, dry weather and/or water restrictions may create challenges. Some tips when water is at a premium:
Mulch matters
Mulch conserves moisture, protects plant roots, suppresses weeds, and regulates soil temperature. Apply 2 to 3 inches of leaf mulch on flower beds, as well as trees and shrubs, keeping mulch away from the trunks.
Scout the yard for next season
August is a great month to plan for next year’s garden:
Annual and Perennial Care
Fruit, Vegetable, and Herb Care
To deadhead or not
Continue to remove withered flowers (aka “deadhead”) of some annuals and perennials to encourage additional blooms and to keep plants looking their best. However, let certain dried flowerheads stand for fall and winter interest; good choices include astilbe (Astilbe), coneflower (Echinacea spp.), ornamental grasses, globe thistle (Echinops), and others.
Lily TLC
Remove yellowed or dried stems and flower stalks of lilies (Lilium spp.) by gently pulling them from the underground bulbs.
Boost the fall garden
Consider adding asters (Aster spp.), garden mums, (Chrysanthemum spp.), goldenrod (Solidago spp.), or other fall-flowering plants to garden beds to further extend the flowering season.
Divide peonies
Peonies (Paeonia) can be divided at the end of this month and into early fall.
Fertilize roses
Roses are generally not fertilized after the first week in August. However, some growers and rosarians interested in maximizing flower displays do continue to apply a dilute fertilizer.
Harvest vegetables regularly
Keep picking ripe vegetables to encourage the plants to keep producing.
Lettuce refresh
Cool-season lettuces, mesclun mixes, and unusual greens that were planted in early spring can be planted again this month.
Plant for fall
In the first week of August, plant short-season broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, mustard greens, radishes, snap beans, and spinach for fall harvesting.
Look for disease or insect problems
Avoid spraying strong insecticides or fungicides on food products.
Tend to herbs
Lawn Care
Tree and Shrub Care
Address bare spots
Mid- to late August is the best time to seed bare areas of lawn, overseed thinning grass, or lay down sod. Some tips:
Skip the fertilizer
Refrain from fertilizing lawns until at least September or later in fall. A winter fertilizer should be applied when top growth has stopped but the lawn is still green.
Address grubs
Annual white grub damage will begin to show up this month in the form of browned-out areas of turf that pull back easily, like a carpet. Grubs chew grass roots, resulting in turf that lifts up. In lawns with high grub infestations, skunks and raccoons often dig up the turf, sometimes doing more damage than the grubs themselves.
Lawns can handle dormancy
In times of drought, excessive heat, or water restrictions, grass can go dormant. Apply one quarter to one half-inch of water every two to four weeks to keep dormant turf alive.
Look for insect damage
Monitor trees and shrubs for insects or disease.
Although spotted lanternfly is not currently a problem in northern Illinois, it has been identified as a major environmental threat in nearby states, including Indiana. This invasive species poses threats to crops, as well as many tree varieties. Spotted lanternfly overwinters as an egg on smooth-barked trees, but also firewood, rocks, and items kept outdoors, such as patio furniture, winter equipment, and vehicles. Females lay eggs in rows and cover them with a substance that is white and glossy before drying to a gray/brown color. The entire egg mass is about 1.5 inches long, and looks like a smudge of clay. Check out the Illinois Department of Agriculture’s website to learn more about spotted lanternfly and other invasive pests.
Water young trees and shrubs
Continue to water trees and shrubs each week if rainfall is insufficient. Established trees and shrubs need approximately 1 inch of water per week.
Look for signs of scorch
Examine trees and shrubs for symptoms of bacterial leaf scorch on tender new foliage—e.g., the margins of leaves turn brown and crispy. Scorch can result from insufficient water and/or exposure to hot, drying winds, but it also can be caused when excessive amounts of water interfere with a plant’s ability to take in oxygen. Contact the Garden’s Plant Information Service for more information.
Avoid pruning
Pruning is generally not advised in August. The exception is for shrubs that have just flowered this month; prune immediately following their flowering.
Outdoor Container Care
Monitor water levels for container plants
Monitor water needs for containers, which will dry out more quickly than garden beds. If the weather is especially dry and hot, twice-daily watering may be needed for plants growing in full sun.
Deadhead petunias
Leggy petunias should be pinched in half to keep them reblooming and looking tidy.
Fertilize plants
Continue to feed container plants with quarter-strength liquid balanced fertilizer twice a month.
August is a great month to …
to dry flowers
The centuries-old craft of drying flowers offers a tangible way to preserve the beauty of the garden, all year long. Find tips and techniques here, and learn which flowers make the best candidates for drying.