Annuals wind down in August
 August is the last growing month for many annuals in all but the most southern U.S. zones. Some will need cutting back and feeding to produce their last blooms of the season.
As the month progresses, it's time to start clearing out straggly, spent plants in preparation for fall clean-up. And remember to keep the weeds under control. They’re still growing and will drop seeds in the garden soil that will sprout next year if allowed to flourish. August temperatures can be trying for outdoor tasks, so do only the most necessary things, and plan them for the morning or dusk hours.
But there's still a lot to enjoy in the August annual garden. Many plants are still in bloom, such as celosia, sunflowers, gazania, marigold, zinnia and petunia.
Monarch butterflies start showing up and hummingbirds are flitting around. The cicadas start humming. And it's the last summer hurrah before fall, when school starts and a new season begins.
So, have a barbecue. Get out the citronella candles and sit outside with friends and family on those warm, star-lit nights. The mosquitoes and biting flies will be out, as well, so keep the insect repellent close.
Some gardening tips for annuals in August:
- Most importantly this month, keep the garden watered. Rain can get scarce as the summer wanes, and in many places the temperature reaches 100 degrees or more for several days this month. Now is a good time to plan on watering every other day or so in very warm and dry areas. Especially watch container plants. Move them to a shady location during extreme heat because they tend to dry out very quickly in full sun.
- Apply or re-apply pre-emergent weed control, such as Preen granules, except in places where you intend to plant any seeds during the fall. Pull out crab grass and other invasive hot-weather weeds as soon as you see them. If the soil is too hard for easy weeding, soak the soil first and use a dandelion digger to help remove the roots.
- Continue feeding all blooming plants. If some annuals have become straggly, cut them back by about one-third, feed with a heavily and keep them watered. Use a full-strength solution of liquid plant food and saturate the soil. Plants will quickly produce a new round of blooms to wind up the summer.
- Don’t let spent flower heads go to seed. “Deadhead” the plants—clip or pinch off dying flowers. This keeps the plants from exerting energy to produce seed, and makes them produce more flowers, instead. You can let some flower heads go to seed, if you want to try planting those seeds in the fall or next spring. But remember that seeds dropped by hybrid annuals may not produce true plants.
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