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Desert Garden Maintenance Ideas for August
August is a month of patience. Although the planting season is just around the corner, now is not the time to tackle major garden projects. Let your garden rest while you focus on maintaining what you already have, especially your irrigation.
As we move through August and farther away from the summer solstice, the days slowly become shorter. We don't really notice the change because the days are still long and hot, but our plants do. They respond to these subtle seasonal changes long before we can. While it may not feel like it yet, the garden is already beginning its transition toward fall. Be patient. Cooler weather will be here soon enough.
Topics covered: Planting, Pruning, Flowering, Vegetables, Irrigation, Pests, Weeds, and Fertilizer
Planting
Although the planting season is just around the corner, August is not the time to install new plants. Even the toughest desert plants struggle to establish in extreme heat, and the extra irrigation required often outweighs any benefit of planting now. Instead, use this month to plan your fall garden. Spend time in your landscape during the early morning or evening, when the temperatures are more enjoyable, and think about what you'd like to add, change, or move. Make a planting list, decide where new plants will go, and you'll be ready to plant when the planting season begins.
Pruning
In the desert, August is one of the worst times for major pruning. Pruning creates wounds that the plant must seal and can stimulate new growth, both of which require energy and water during the hottest part of the year. Rather than adding another source of stress, allow plants to focus their resources on surviving the summer heat.
Many desert trees and shrubs are also in an active period of summer growth. If you prune heavily now, much of that new growth will simply return before fall, meaning you'll likely be pruning the same plant again in October. Waiting until growth begins to slow saves both time and effort while giving you a better idea of the plant's natural shape.
Instead, keep an eye on your plants and trim only what needs attention. Remove dead, damaged, or hazardous branches, and prune anything creating a safety issue or blocking a walkway. If you find yourself pruning the same plant year after year, it may be worth asking why. Trees should rarely require annual pruning, and shrubs growing in their natural form usually need only an occasional snip. Is the plant receiving too much water? Has it outgrown its space? Before reaching for the pruners, look for the underlying cause rather than treating the symptom. And always check carefully for nesting birds and other wildlife before pruning.
Flowering
By August, the desert garden settles into a quieter rhythm. Many spring blooms have finished, and even well-established landscapes may look a little tired after months of intense heat. That's perfectly normal. Native plants generally handle the summer better than non-native species, but this is a season of endurance rather than showy displays.
I leave spent flowers on many of my native plants throughout the summer. Their seeds provide an important food source for birds and other wildlife at a time when naturally occurring food sources have become scarce. Allowing seeds to mature and drop naturally also encourages natural reseeding in the garden.
While August isn't our showiest month, there are still native plants in bloom if you take the time to look. And if we're fortunate enough to receive monsoonal rain, the landscape can transform almost overnight with fresh growth and renewed flowering.
Vegetables
August is the perfect time to plan your fall vegetable garden. Review next month's planting guide, decide what you'd like to grow, and gather your seeds or transplants so you're ready to begin planting as the weather cools.
Irrigation
July and August are typically the hottest months of the year in the Coachella Valley, making proper irrigation critical. As temperatures rise, plants generally require more water, but that doesn't necessarily mean watering more often. Desert natives benefit from deep, thorough waterings followed by a period of drying between irrigations. Frequent, shallow watering encourages weak root systems and can lead to excessive growth, floppiness, or rot.
Don't worry if your plants wilt during the hottest part of the afternoon. Temporary wilting is a normal response that helps many plants conserve moisture during extreme heat. They should recover as temperatures cool. Resist the urge to spray plants with overhead water during the day. Besides wasting water, overhead watering can increase moisture loss and, for some plants, may contribute to leaf damage.
Before I leave on vacation in August, I always do a complete irrigation check. Over the years I've learned that August seems to be the month when irrigation problems appear, whether it's the extreme heat, months of continuous use, or simply Murphy's Law. Before leaving town—even if it's just for a few days—I recommend doing the same. Check for leaks, clogged emitters, broken lines, and make sure your timer is programmed correctly. It's much easier to fix a small problem before you leave than to come home to stressed or dead plants.
Pests
Healthy plants are your best defense against pests. During August, heat stress, water stress, and pest problems often go hand in hand. Plants weakened by improper watering or extreme heat are more susceptible to insects and disease, while pest damage creates additional stress that makes it even harder for plants to cope with summer conditions.
Pay close attention to your irrigation this month. Overwatering can encourage problems such as mealybugs, rot, and weak growth, while underwatering leaves plants stressed and vulnerable. Take a few minutes each week to inspect your plants while checking your irrigation system. Catching problems early is the best way to keep them from becoming major issues. Remember that not every insect is a pest. Take time to identify what you're seeing before deciding whether any action is needed.
Weeds
Weeds compete with your landscape for water, nutrients, and space, making them especially problematic during the hottest months of the year. Removing them while they're small prevents them from spreading and makes them much easier to manage.
Do your weeding in the early morning or evening, not only for your own comfort but also because disturbing the soil during the heat of the day increases moisture loss. Work a little at a time rather than trying to tackle the entire garden at once.
Spurge weed (Euphorbia maculata) is one of the most common warm-season weeds in the Coachella Valley. It often hitchhikes into gardens from nursery containers and spreads quickly once established. Hand-pull plants while they're young, making sure to remove the taproot. A thick layer of mulch also helps prevent new seedlings from germinating by blocking sunlight. Wear gloves when handling spurge, as the milky sap can irritate the skin.
Fertilizer
August is generally not the time to fertilize your landscape. Fertilizer encourages new growth at a time when plants are already working hard to cope with extreme heat. Rather than asking plants to produce new leaves and stems, allow them to focus their energy on surviving the summer. There are exceptions for certain plants and situations, but for most desert landscapes, it's best to wait until cooler weather returns.
