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Top Perennials to Plant in August: A Guide to Choosing Perennials for a Robust Display Next Year

Posted on by sunrise-sixteen
07
Aug
As summer begins to wane, August presents a prime opportunity for gardeners to prepare their gardens for the upcoming year. Planting perennials in late summer allows them to establish strong root systems before winter, ensuring a spectacular display next spring and summer. Here’s our guide to choosing the best perennials to plant in August, along with tips for planting, watering, and mulching to ensure they thrive.

Top Perennials to Plant in August

  1. Coneflowers (Echinacea)
    • Varieties: Purple Coneflower, White Swan, Cheyenne Spirit
    • Benefits: Drought-tolerant, attracts pollinators, long-lasting blooms
  2. Black-eyed Susans (Rudbeckia)
    • Varieties: Goldsturm, Indian Summer, Herbstonne
    • Benefits: Bright, sunny blooms, low maintenance, attracts butterflies
  3. Russian Sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia)
    • Varieties: Little Spire, Blue Spire
    • Benefits: Aromatic foliage, drought-resistant, attracts bees
  4. Daylilies (Hemerocallis)
    • Varieties: Stella de Oro, Happy Returns, Pardon Me
    • Benefits: Easy to grow, wide range of colors, reblooming varieties available
  5. Sedum (Stonecrop)
    • Varieties: Autumn Joy, Matrona, Dragon’s Blood
    • Benefits: Succulent foliage, late-season blooms, drought-tolerant
  6. Coreopsis (Tickseed)
    • Varieties: Moonbeam, Zagreb, Early Sunrise
    • Benefits: Prolific bloomer, attracts pollinators, low maintenance
  7. Hostas
    • Varieties: Blue Angel, Sum and Substance, Patriot
    • Benefits: Shade-tolerant, beautiful foliage, low maintenance
  8. Peonies (Paeonia)
    • Varieties: Sarah Bernhardt, Festiva Maxima, Karl Rosenfield
    • Benefits: Fragrant, large blooms, long-lived

Tips for Planting Perennials in August

  1. Prepare the Soil
    • Choose a location with well-draining soil. Amend the soil with compost or aged manure to improve fertility and structure.
    • Incorporate Espoma Bio-tone Starter Plus into the soil. This organic plant food contains beneficial microbes that help perennials establish quickly and grow stronger.
  2. Planting
    • Dig a hole twice as wide and as deep as the plant’s root ball.
    • Place the plant in the hole, making sure the crown is level with the soil surface.
    • Backfill the hole with soil, pressing down gently to eliminate air pockets.
  3. Watering
    • Water the plants thoroughly after planting to settle the soil.
    • Maintain consistent moisture during the establishment period. Water deeply once or twice a week, depending on rainfall and soil type.
    • Mulch around the plants to conserve moisture and regulate soil temperature.
  4. Mulching
    • Apply a 2-3 inch layer of organic mulch around the base of the plants. Mulching helps retain moisture, suppresses weeds, and protects the roots from temperature fluctuations.
    • Ensure the mulch is kept a few inches away from the plant stems to prevent rot.

Encouraging a Great Start

Using Espoma Bio-tone Starter Plus when planting perennials in August will give your plants a head start. This product contains mycorrhizae, which promote strong root development and enhance nutrient uptake. Additionally, mulching well will help keep the soil moist and cool, crucial for new plantings in the heat of late summer.

Planting perennials in August sets the stage for a vibrant garden next year. By choosing robust varieties, preparing the soil well, watering consistently, and mulching effectively, you’ll ensure that your garden flourishes. Visit 16 Acres Garden Center for a wide selection of top-quality perennials and all the gardening supplies you need to succeed.

Happy planting!

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