August Gardening Tips for Fayetteville, NC: Keep Your Landscape Thriving Through the Summer Heat

August is one of the hottest months of the year in Fayetteville, but that doesn’t mean your garden has to suffer. With a little extra attention, your flowers, shrubs, trees, and lawn can stay healthy while you begin preparing for a beautiful fall season.

Here are our top August gardening tips for homeowners in the Sandhills.

1. Water Smarter, Not More

Deep watering is much better than frequent, shallow watering. Aim to water early in the morning so moisture reaches the roots before the afternoon heat arrives.

Tips:

• Water 1–2 times per week rather than every day.
• Give lawns and landscape beds about 1 inch of water weekly, including rainfall.
• Use soaker hoses or drip irrigation whenever possible.
• Refresh mulch to help lock in moisture and keep roots cooler.

2. Freshen Up Your Mulch

If your mulch has thinned out over the summer, now is a great time to replenish it. A 2–3 inch layer helps:

• Reduce weeds
• Retain soil moisture
• Moderate soil temperatures
• Give landscape beds a clean, finished appearance

Just remember to keep mulch a few inches away from tree trunks and shrub stems.

3. Deadhead Summer Flowers

Removing faded blooms encourages many annuals and perennials to continue flowering well into fall.

Plants that benefit include:

• Zinnias
• Coneflowers
• Black-eyed Susans
• Salvia
• Lantana

A few minutes of deadheading each week can make a big difference.

4. Watch for Summer Pests

Hot weather can bring unwanted visitors to the garden. Keep an eye out for:

• Spider mites
• Aphids
• Japanese beetles
• Fall webworms on trees

Early detection makes treatment much easier before damage spreads.

5. Start Planning Your Fall Vegetable Garden

Believe it or not, August is the perfect time to begin planting many cool-season vegetables in North Carolina.

Great choices include:

• Broccoli
• Kale
• Collards
• Lettuce
• Spinach
• Radishes
• Beets
• Turnips

Warm soil helps seeds germinate quickly, while cooler fall temperatures produce sweeter, healthier vegetables.

6. Skip Heavy Pruning

Avoid major pruning on trees and shrubs this month. Heavy pruning encourages tender new growth that can be damaged when cooler temperatures arrive later this year.

Instead, remove only dead, damaged, or diseased branches.

7. Give Your Lawn One Last Summer Boost

If you have Bermuda, Zoysia, or St. Augustine grass, August is generally the last opportunity to fertilize for the growing season. Centipede lawns should not receive late-summer nitrogen applications. If you’re unsure what type of grass you have, we’re happy to help.

Visit Green Side Up Garden & Gifts

Whether you’re refreshing your flower beds, adding fresh mulch, planting a fall vegetable garden, or looking for expert advice, Green Side Up Garden & Gifts has everything you need to keep your landscape looking its best.

Stop by this August and let our knowledgeable team help you choose the right plants, soils, fertilizers, and gardening supplies for your Fayetteville landscape.

Happy gardening from all of us at Green Side Up Garden & Gifts!