Plant Now, Bloom Big: August’s Secret to a Show-Off Summer Garden
Plant Now, Bloom Big: August’s Secret to a Show-Off Summer Garden
As Winter begins to loosen its grip, August quietly sets the stage for a spectacular Spring. Whether you’re a seasoned landscaper or a weekend gardener, this is the month to plant with purpose and prepare for a garden that thrives.
August in the Garden – The Calm Before the Bloom
August is a transitional month in South Africa. While frost may still linger inland, the soil is softening, the days are lengthening, and in the Western Cape, Winter rains continue to nourish the ground, creating ideal conditions for planting fynbos, bulbs, and cool-season annuals that will thrive as Spring approaches.
Sow What? Here’s What to Plant this August
Flowers
- Pansies, violas, snapdragons, calendulas for early Spring colour
- Summer bulbs: gladiolus, dahlias, lilies
Vegetables
- Spinach, Swiss chard, lettuce, peas
- Start tomatoes, chillies, beans in trays for September transplanting
Indigenous Picks
- Fynbos favourites: Ericas, restios, proteas, perfect for water-wise gardens and biodiversity
Garden Tasks for August
- Mulch beds to retain warmth and moisture
- Sharpen tools and check irrigation systems
- Prune dormant trees and shrubs
- Feed your soil with compost and organic matter
Don’t Just Landscape, Ecoscape!
Modern landscaping is about creating living systems. August is ideal for:
- Adding pollinator-friendly plants
- Installing rainwater harvesting systems
- Designing low-maintenance beds with indigenous plants
Gather Indigenous Inspiration
This season, fynbos is taking off, just look to Postberg Nature Reserve in Langebaan, where white flowering daisies bloom like snow. Nearby towns like Hopefield and Darling celebrate with vibrant flower shows. Duckitt Orchids are also in bloom at this time.
HOT TIP FOR AUGUST:
COVER YOUR BASES… AND YOUR BEDS!
Before Spring steals the spotlight, lay down a generous layer of mulch. It’s your garden’s best Winter-to-Spring transition tool:
- Keeps soil warm
- Locks in moisture
- Suppresses weeds
- Feeds your soil as it breaks down
Use organic mulch like bark chips, straw, or compost. Aim for a 5 – 7 cm layer, keeping it clear of stems. An added bonus is that it makes your beds look instantly tidy, like your garden’s wearing its best Winter coat!
Planning Your Garden’s Next Move?
We’re Rooted in the Right Ideas
August is your garden’s reset button. Whether you’re refreshing a small patio or designing a full landscape, the choices you make now will echo through the seasons. At BEST Landscaping, we believe in planting with purpose because every garden tells its own unique story.
As specialists in blending indigenous South African flora with foreign Mediterranean plants, we create spaces that are not only beautiful but ecologically balanced.
