Gardening This Weekend: August 21, 2025

Here are the things that rank as most important here in the latter half of August.

PLANT
• Zinnias, marigolds, and celosias (cockscombs) from vigorous transplants in bud, but not yet in full bloom (except the small-flowering hybrids). Their fall show will be spectacular.
• Cole crops, including broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, and Brussels sprouts from transplants. This is the prime weekend for planting from College Station/Austin north to the Red River.
• Nearing last call for planting bermuda from seed and St. Augustine from sod in northern parts of state (St. Augustine only as far north as Red River).

PRUNE
• Erratic shoots off shrubs, groundcovers.
• Dead and damaged branches from trees and shrubs.
• Unwanted flowers from coleus, basil, and others.

FERTILIZE
• Container plants with water-soluble, high-nitrogen plant food every couple of times that you water them.
• Iron-deficient plants monthly with iron/sulfur additive. Symptoms: yellowed leaves with dark green veins, most visible on newest growth.

ON THE LOOKOUT
• Pythium cottony blight in bermuda, zoysia turf. Watch for bold, dead patches of grass in wettest parts of yard. Improve drainage. Water only in morning and less frequently.
• Chinch bugs in St. Augustine cause grass in hot, sunny areas only to turn brown, fail to respond to irrigation. On close inspection you’ll see the BB-sized black insects with white diamonds on their backs. Treat immediately with a labeled insecticide.
• Lace bugs suck sap out of leaves of many species of trees, shrubs, and vines. Leaves turn pale green or tan with black mottling on backs. Systemic insecticide Imidacloprid controls them. Most contact insecticides also will.
• Watch for stinging caterpillars and yellowjacket nests hiding in shrubs as you prune them. Warning: aerosol wasp sprays will damage and kill plants’ leaves.