Each month we give ideas, tips and planting advice for cooler, warmer, wetter and drier areas in each zone, so ask at your local nursery which zone best matches your conditions.
What to plant in August
Find out which climate zone you’re in below, and plant accordingly:
Flowers
All zones
- African marigold
- Ageratum
- Alyssum
- Arctotis
- Aster
- Bedding begonia
- Carnation
- Dahlia
- Gazania
- Honesty
- Marigold
- Nasturtium
- Petunia
- Portulaca
- Rudbeckia
- Torenia
- Tuberous begonia
- Verbena
- Zinnia
Zones 1-3
- African marigold
- Aster
- Arctotis
- Ageratum
- Bedding begonia
- Californian poppy
- Celosia
- Chysanthemum
- Coleus
- Cosmos
- Dahlia
- Gazania
- Gerbera
- Phlox
- Portulaca
- Salvia
- Sunflower
- Zinnia
Zones 4-6
- Carnation
- Chrysanthemum
- Cleome
- Cosmos
- Delphinium
- Dianthus
- Lobelia
- Petunia
- Snapdragon
- Statice
Vegetables
All zones
- Asparagus
- Beans
- Beetroot
- Broccoli
- Cabbage
- Carrot
- Lettuce
- Mustard
- Onion
- Parsnip
- Peas
- Radish
- Sweetcorn
- Tomato
- Turnip
- Zucchini
Zones 1-3
- Beans
- Capsicum
- Carrot
- Cucumber
- Marrow
- Melon
- Potato
- Pumpkin
- Radish
- Rhubarb crowns
- Shallots
- Squash
- Sweet corn
- Sweet potato
- Tomato
Zones 4-6
- Artichoke suckers
- Broccoli
- Cauliflower
- Chinese cabbage
- Cress
- Endive
- Kohlrabi
- Leek
- Melon
- Onion
- Peas
- Potato
- Rhubarb
August gardening jobs to do before spring
Fertilise
- Wake plants from their winter slumber with a pre-spring fertilising campaign with slow-release fertiliser or pelletised manure.
- Fertilise lawns towards the end of August as part of their winter recovery.
- Feed jonquils and daffodils as they finish flowering, but don’t cut back foliage until fully dead.
- Fertilise early spring bulbs that have finished flowering but resist the urge to cut back foliage until it has completely died down
Remove weeds and check for pests
- Check for citrus gall wasp (indicated by ugly swelling on stems), remove with a knife if needed and destroy to stop new infestations.
- Inspect azaleas for petal blight and spray if necessary.
- Pick a dry sunny day to spray gravel paths with weed killer.
- Pull out or spray annual weeds as they appear to stop them from becoming established
Prune
- Lightly prune camellias after they have finished flowering.
- Finish pruning your roses by mid-August and spray for black-spot if it’s been a problem in the past.
- Cut back passionfruit vines by a third to encourage spring growth and plentiful fruit.
Plant
- Prep to plant a hedge in early spring by turning over soil for aeration and nutrients.
- Sow seeds for early tomatoes (in colder areas sow in a tray on a sill indoors).
- Check out some of the striking wattles now in flower and make choices for your own garden.
- Plant pawpaw in subtropical zones for lush fruit for years to come
