🌱 August Garden Guide by Reimagined Roots

Harvest, Plant, and Plan Ahead
By late summer, the garden is in full abundance. Vines climb and sprawl, branches bend under the weight of ripening fruit, and the warm air carries the scent of herbs and rich soil. This is a season of gratitude and observation. The work you do now can extend the harvest, strengthen the perennial layers, and lay the foundation for next spring’s growth.

Tend What Thrives and Release What is Finished
Walk slowly through your garden. Notice which plants are producing with strength and which have completed their life cycle. Remove finished crops and return them to the soil through composting or chop-and-drop mulching. This frees space and energy for fall plantings and reduces pest habitat. Continue supporting plants that are still in production with thoughtful watering, mulching, and care.

Plant for a Fall Harvest
August in Zone 6a still offers a generous window for cool-season crops. These can mature before the first frost or overwinter for an early spring harvest.

You can plant:

• Kale and collards for sweet, hardy greens that improve with cooler weather

• Spinach in mid to late August for fall picking or overwintering under cover

• Radishes and turnips for quick harvests in just a few weeks

• Arugula and mustard greens for repeated sowings every one to two weeks

• Carrots and beets in early August for fall harvests with heavy mulch to protect from frost

• A final round of bush beans if frost is still several weeks away

  💡 Pro Tip Keep a garden journal. Record what you plant, where you plant it, and how it grows. These notes will guide you in creating an even more resilient and productive garden next year. Explore SeedTime’s Free Online Garden Planting Calendar for a visual guide tailored to your climate.

Care for Fruit Trees and Shrubs
The weight of summer harvests and the intensity of the sun can stress fruiting plants. Support their health by:

• Harvesting often to reduce strain on branches

• Pruning watersprouts and removing dead or diseased wood

• Deep watering at the root zone once or twice a week rather than frequent shallow watering

• Feeding with compost tea, diluted fish emulsion, or worm castings to replenish nutrients

• Protecting ripening fruit with netting to prevent loss to birds or squirrels

Plant Ally: Lemon Balm
Lemon balm is a beloved perennial that offers nourishment for people, pollinators, and soil.

• Brew fresh leaves into a calming tea

• Chop and drop as a gentle green mulch to feed the soil

• Attract bees and other pollinators while deterring some pests

• Dry leaves for winter teas and herbal remedies

• Harvest often to encourage new growth and to keep its energy balanced in the garden
  

Wild Edibles and Medicinals in August
The wild edges of Zone 6a still offer a bounty:

• Elderberries for syrup, jelly, or drying for winter use

• Goldenrod in bloom for teas and tinctures

• Mugwort and motherwort gathered before flowers fade

• Chicory blossoms to brighten salads with color and gentle medicine

  🌿 Harvest with reciprocity. Always leave enough for pollinators and wildlife, taking only what you will use

Prepare for Spring by Planting Now
August is the time to think forward.

• Order bulbs such as daffodils, tulips, and alliums so you have them ready to plant in fall

• Sow cover crops like clover, oats, or buckwheat to protect and enrich the soil through winter

• Apply mulch to empty beds to keep soil covered, reduce erosion, and build organic matter

• Sign up for our workshop at the New England Botanic Garden to learn how to close your garden in a way that sets you up for success

Observe and Plan with Permaculture Principles
August is rich with feedback from the land. Take time to:

• Notice which areas hold moisture and which dry quickly

• Observe where pollinator activity is strongest

• Reflect on which plants thrived with minimal intervention and which struggled

• Sketch ideas for fall projects or spring redesigns while patterns are still fresh in your mind and let the land’s natural rhythms guide your next steps

Keep Growing 🌱
August is a time for balance. We hold gratitude for the abundance of the present while planting the seeds for the future. Whether you are harvesting baskets of food, gathering herbs, or quietly observing the cycles of your landscape, each action contributes to a more resilient ecosystem.

If you would like guidance in planning your seasonal garden or creating a regenerative design for your landscape, connect with us here. You can also join our newsletter for seasonal tips, workshop updates, and inspiration rooted in permaculture and organic landscaping.