What to Do in Your Central Texas Garden (Aug 15–31): Build Beds & Prep for Fall
Welcome back to the ATXGardens Podcast! As August winds down, Central Texas gardeners find themselves in a season of transition. The intense heat of summer may continue, or late-season rains may begin to refresh the landscape and signal the approach of fall gardening season. In this episode, Colleen shares what to do in your garden during the second half of August, including pruning tips, orchard planning, seed saving, preparing new garden beds, and getting ready for one of the best vegetable gardening seasons of the year.
🌞 Late August: A Season of Transition
The second half of August can bring two very different scenarios:
Continued heat and drought stress
Tropical storms and late-summer rainfall
Either way, this is a time to focus on:
Weeding
Mulching
Watering
Planning
Preparing for fall planting
As summer winds down and routines return, the garden begins shifting toward harvest season and fall growth.
🌳 Tree & Shrub Care in Late August
Still Don't Plant Trees & Shrubs
It's still too hot to plant:
Shade trees
Fruit trees
Understory trees
Shrubs
Roses
Woody vines
Wait for cooler weather whenever possible.
Last Chance for Summer Pruning
Finish any necessary pruning before September arrives.
Good reasons to prune now:
Clear roofs
Clear driveways and sidewalks
Lift tree canopies
Improve visibility
Improve airflow
This is also your final opportunity for summer pruning on fruit trees and roses before fall arrives.
🍐 Pear Harvest Season & Orchard Planning
Some pear varieties begin ripening in late summer.
Check Your Pear Trees
Older heirloom varieties such as:
LeConte Pears
may not ripen fully on the tree.
Try This:
Harvest pears while still firm
Ripen them indoors for several weeks
Enjoy fresh with cheese or snacks
Plan Next Year's Orchard
Late August is a great time to:
Evaluate this year's harvest
Identify underperforming trees
Research new varieties
Prepare to order bare-root fruit trees this fall
The best fruit trees often sell out quickly, so planning ahead is worthwhile.
🌿 Perennials, Bulbs & Ornamental Grasses
Stop Pruning Most Perennials
By mid-August, it's generally too late to prune many warm-season perennials.
If cut back now, they may not have enough time to:
Regrow
Bloom again
Prepare for winter
Exceptions
Plants that are struggling badly may still be cut back, including:
Wax Mallows
Datura
Just understand they may not bloom again before the first freeze.
🦋 Cut Back Tropical Milkweed
The Xerces Society recommends cutting tropical milkweed to the ground before Labor Day.
Why?
This helps reduce the spread of:
OE (Ophryocystis elektroscirrha) parasite
which can negatively affect migrating monarch butterflies.
If you grow tropical milkweed, now is the time to cut it back.
🌺 Seed Saving & Late Summer Flowers
Many flowering perennials are slowing down as summer progresses.
Continue Deadheading If You Want More Blooms
Yellow Bells
Plumbago
Pride of Barbados
Hibiscus
Skyflower Duranta
Firebush
Or Save Seeds Instead
If you'd like to propagate new plants:
Stop deadheading
Allow seed pods to mature
Collect and save seeds
These plants are excellent choices for beginning seed savers.
Share Seeds Locally
Colleen encourages gardeners to donate seeds to local seed libraries and community seed exchanges.
Resource:
Central Texas Seed Savers
🥕 Building a New Vegetable Garden
Late August is one of the best times to prepare for fall vegetable gardening.
Why Now?
Labor Day weekend is often one of the best planting windows in Central Texas.
Preparing beds now means you'll be ready when conditions improve.
🌱 Double Digging for Better Garden Beds
This episode introduces the double-digging method for creating new garden beds.
Best For:
Areas with at least 12 inches of soil
Clay soils
New vegetable gardens
Helpful Tools
Digging fork
Broadfork
Garden wagon
Wheelbarrow
Soil rake
Benefits
Improves soil structure
Loosens compacted soil
Creates deeper rooting zones
Prepares beds for productive fall crops
Always perform a soil test before creating a new garden whenever possible.
🍅 What Can Still Be Planted?
Plant Now
From Seed
Beans
Cucumbers
Summer Squash
Zucchini
Tatume Squash
From Seed Potatoes
White Potatoes
Running Out of Time
Plant immediately if you still want a harvest from:
Peppers
Eggplant
Tomatoes
Okra
Southern Peas
Coming Soon
Leave room for cool-season crops that will be planted throughout September and October.
🌿 Herb Garden Tasks
The herb garden remains fairly quiet during late August.
Continue:
Weeding
Mulching
Watering
Feed If Needed
Compost
Gentle granular fertilizer
Liquid seaweed
Start Cool-Season Herbs Indoors
Cilantro
Dill
Fennel
Chamomile
Calendula
Borage
Parsley
One More Basil Harvest
Basil can still be planted now for a final harvest before winter arrives.
🌻 Plant Flowers for Fall Color
Late August is a great time to sow:
Sunflowers
Zinnias
Mullein
These can provide beauty, pollinator support, and cut flowers later in the season.
🍐 Fruit Savers BioBlitz 2026
This episode's activism segment highlights an exciting community science project.
Fruit Savers BioBlitz 2: The Ripening
The project seeks to identify:
Pear trees
Persimmons
Jujubes
Other resilient fruit-producing trees
throughout Central Texas.
How to Participate
Use iNaturalist to document:
Fruit
Leaves
Trunk
Tree shape
Other identifying features
The goal is to locate and preserve hardy local fruit tree genetics for future generations.
🔗 Resources & Products Mentioned
ATXGardens.com to make an appointment
🌼 Stay Connected
For more Central Texas gardening advice, seasonal planting tips, and sustainable landscaping guidance, visit http://ATXGardens.com and follow Colleen on Instagram @ATXGardens_.
