
Summer is slowly fading away, and you might think it’s time to put away the gardening gloves. But don’t retire just yet! August offers a perfect opportunity to plant a variety of plants that will keep your garden thriving well into the fall season. By choosing the right plants, you can extend your gardening enjoyment and ensure a steady supply of fresh produce and beautiful blooms.
In this article, we’ll explore 10 fantastic plants to sow in August, which offer an array of flavors, colors, and textures. These plants are not only simple to grow but are also perfect for filling the gaps in your garden left by harvested crops. These selections will help bridge the gap between summer and fall, ensuring your garden remains a vibrant, productive oasis.
So, grab your trowel and let’s get planting! The following list of plants will guide you through this late-summer gardening journey, giving you the pleasure of witnessing your garden evolve as the season’s change. Happy planting!
Understanding August Planting
Importance of August Planting
Planting in August is essential to keeping your garden thriving and colorful through the fall season. By choosing the right plants, you can ensure that your garden continues to produce vegetables, and your flower beds remain beautiful as summer fades into cooler temperatures.
Additionally, August planting helps to fill those gaps in your garden created by spent plants and ensures a continuous harvest for your family.
Preparing for Fall Garden
To prepare your garden for fall, you should start by cleaning up any debris, dead leaves, or spent plants from your garden beds. This will help prevent the spread of diseases and pests and provide a clean environment for your new plants.
Make sure to amend your soil by adding organic compost or aged manure to enrich it and help feed your plants throughout their growth. This will give your new additions the nutrients they need to thrive through fall.
Finally, consider your garden’s layout and plan accordingly. Keep in mind both the mature size of your plants as well as their sunlight requirements when deciding where to place them.
This will ensure they have adequate room to grow and receive the proper amount of sun throughout the day.
Top 10 Plants for August
Kale (Brassica oleracea)

Kale is a hardy vegetable that thrives in cooler weather, making it an excellent choice for planting in August. This leafy green has a high nutritional value, and it can be grown in containers or directly in the garden. To plant kale, sow the seeds about 1/2 inch deep and 12 inches apart. Water regularly and protect the young seedlings from pests such as cabbage worms.
Black-Eyed Susans (Rudbeckia hirta)

Add a touch of color to your garden in fall with Black-Eyed Susans. Plant them in August and keep them well-watered to ensure they establish strong roots. These perennial wildflowers are low-maintenance and attract butterflies and pollinators to your garden.
Asters

Asters add colors ranging from purple, pink, and white to your garden as temperatures decrease in the fall. They attract butterflies and best suit planting in well-draining soil and full sun. Divide clumps every few years to encourage healthy growth and optimum blooms.
Cleomes

Cleomes, or spider flowers, can be planted in August to add a burst of color in the late summer and early autumn in your garden. They are easy to grow and can be direct-sown from seeds. Cleomes tolerate most types of soils and require minimal maintenance.
Violas (Viola spp.)

These delicate, cool-season flowers add color and softness to your garden. Violas come in multiple shades, including blue, purple, and yellow. Plant them 4-8 inches apart in well-draining soil with partial shade. The flowers will continue to bloom throughout the fall months.
Cornflowers (Centaurea cyanus)

Also known as bachelor’s buttons, cornflowers are easy to grow from seed and add a vibrant blue hue to your garden in the fall. These flowers prefer full sun and well-draining soil, providing support to taller flowers with their sturdy stems.
Marigolds (Tagetes erecta)

Marigolds are cheerful, colored flowers that will liven up your garden during the fall season. Plant marigolds in August and water them regularly. They are a low-maintenance flower, and they also help to deter pests like aphids and whiteflies.
Snapdragons (Antirrhinum majus)

Snapdragons are charming flowers that come in various colors, such as red, yellow, and pink. They can be planted in August to enjoy their vibrant blooms throughout the fall. Snapdragons prefer cooler temperatures, partial sun, and well-draining soil.
Chrysanthemums (Chrysanthemum spp.)

Known as mums, these classic fall flowers bring rich, warm colors to your garden. Plant them in August in well-draining soil and full sun. Prune back any dead leaves or stems to encourage new growth and maintain a tidy appearance.
Sedum (Sedum spp.)
Sedum is a low-maintenance, drought-tolerant perennial known for its succulent-like foliage. Plant sedum species such as ‘Autumn Joy’ in August to enjoy their stunning pink and reddish-brown blooms through fall. They require well-draining soil and are suitable for rock gardens or border planting.