Taking care of your garden in August is easier (and more fun) than you think! After all the summer sun, your plants could use a little TLC—and we’ve got just what you need. At Calloway’s and Cornelius, we’re here to help you keep your garden looking great and get it ready for fall. Check out our 5 easy tips for August garden care, we are here to support your success!
GARDENING TIP #1: FEED YOUR PLANTS
Our first tip is to feed your plants with high-quality food. Your plants have been working hard this season, and they need the proper nourishment to stay vibrant and healthy. Feeding your plants allows them to focus their energy on new growth and developing strong roots. Try our Calloway’s Premium Plant Foods with everything your plants need for lasting blooms and foliage.
Calloway’s Premium Flower Food
Give your flowers a boost with our Premium Flower Food. The 12-4-8 formula includes nitrogen, Fx Iron®, phosphate, and other key nutrients to promote big, bold blooms. Fx Iron® is eco-friendly and won’t stain concrete. Perfect for all your blooming flowers like Pentas, Cora® XDR Vinca, Zinnias, Coneflowers, and more!
Calloway’s Premium Tropical Plant Food
Enjoy lush foliage and vibrant blooms with our Premium Tropical Plant Food. Its 15-5-10 formula includes controlled-release nitrogen, Fx Iron®, calcium, and other essential nutrients for healthier tropical plants. Fx Iron® is eco-friendly, promoting new growth and deep green leaves. Ideal for Bougainvillea, Hibiscus, indoor plants, and more.
Calloway’s Premium Tree & Shrub Plant Food
Our Premium Tree & Shrub Plant Food supports vibrant, healthy growth with its 16-4-8 formula, featuring controlled-release nitrogen and Fx Iron®. This eco-friendly iron source promotes new growth and deep green foliage. Perfect for all types of trees and shrubs, it’s ideal for feeding both new and established plants.
Calloway’s Premium Flowering Shrub Plant Food
Help your flowering shrubs thrive with our Premium Flowering Shrub Plant Food. The 9-3-6 formula includes nitrogen, Fx Iron®, calcium, sulfur, and water-soluble manganese to promote bigger, bolder blooms. This is the perfect ratio for Azaleas, Camellias, Gardenias, Hydrangeas, and more—just check the label for special Azalea care tips.
Calloway’s Natural Lawn & Garden Food
Feed your landscape naturally with Calloway’s Natural Lawn & Garden Food. This 10-3-1 formula provides essential nutrients—Nitrogen, Phosphate, and Soluble Potash—for stronger, healthier growth. Made with COFFEE-K™ (real coffee grounds from GeoJava™) and infused with Sigma Agriscience Biologicals™, it boosts soil organic matter, supports beneficial microbes, and enhances iron absorption. Ideal for lawns, gardens, and beds, one 25lb bag covers up to 5,000 sq. ft. Apply four times a year for best results!
GARDENING TIP #2: WATER YOUR PLANTS
Keep your garden hydrated! Your lawn and garden work hard during the summer months. Keep them healthy and thriving with a deep, consistent watering routine. Make your job easier (and more efficient) with high-quality watering tools from Calloway’s and Cornelius Nursery. Your plants will thank you!
Watering Tools
Find the watering tools that work best for you and your garden. We have everything you need to keep your plants and lawn refreshed.
- Watering Cans – perfect for hanging baskets, container gardens and ally our indoor plants too!
- Dramm Watering wands – Known for their soft, even spray that mimics natural rainfall. They’re made with durable, corrosion-resistant materials like aluminum and brass. That means they last longer and perform consistently, even with regular use in tough weather.
- Hoses and Soaker Hoses – great for watering larger areas like flowerbeds or lawns. Using a premium hose will resist kinks, crack, and UV damage. Not to mention better hoses deliver a steady, reliable stream so you don’t waste water or time trying to get the pressure right.
Sunneday UltraFlex Hybrid Garden Hose
The Sunneday Ultraflex Hybrid Garden Hose is a lightweight, kink-resistant solution for hassle-free watering. Its non-memory design ensures it lays flat every time, while all-weather flexibility keeps it easy to use in any climate. Safe for drinking water and built for durability, it’s the perfect hose for year-round outdoor tasks.
Flexon™ Weep & Soak Hose
The Flexon™ Weep & Soak Hose delivers efficient, even watering with its non-clogging, porous design—perfect for irrigation, vegetable gardens, and general gardening needs. At 50 feet long, it provides consistent soaking action whether used above or below ground, making it an ideal choice for slow, deep watering.
How To Water Your Plants
Most Texas lawns need about 1 inch of water per week, either from rain or sprinklers. Water early to reduce evaporation and stay within city guidelines. For flowerbeds and containers, water based on plant needs—containers often need more frequent watering. A Rapitest Mini PH and Moisture Meter 1817 can help you check soil moisture and ensure you’re watering properly. You can also check the soil by hand, if it is dry at the top 3-4” it is time to water!
GARDENING TIP #3: THE BENEFITS OF MULCH
One of the best summer gardening tips: mulch. Adding mulch to your flowerbeds helps retain moisture, regulate soil temperature, protect your plants roots, and reduce weeds. It also gives your landscape a clean, polished look. Protect your plants and enhance your garden with Calloway’s Premium Organic Mulches.
Calloway’s Premium Organic Cedar Mulch provides your garden with an elegant red-gold finish that is eye-catching and functional. Cedar mulch also helps repel insects and provides a pleasant fragrance!
Calloway’s Premium Organic Hardwood Mulch is a 100% organic top dressing for all of your garden plants. The shredded wood mats together to form a protective covering over your plant roots that won’t wash away. Calloway’s Premium Organic Hardwood Mulch is attractive and will make your garden more beautiful.
Calloway’s Premium Organic Pine Bark Mulch is the ideal mulch for plants and shrubs that prefer an acidic environment. It is a great choice for acid-loving plants like azaleas, camellias, hydrangeas, and more.
GARDENING TIP #4: MOSQUITO CONTROL IN YOUR GARDEN
Coming in at number four, it’s mosquito control. Control pesky mosquitos and protect your family with effective mosquito control products. Check out our Mosquito Control Solutions and all we have to offer!
Bonide® Mosquito Beater® RTS
Say goodbye to mosquitoes with Bonide® Mosquito Beater® RTS! This easy-to-use outdoor spray is perfect for patios, decks, and backyard gatherings. Made with Cedar Oil, Citronella, Geranium Oil, and Lemon Oil, it smells great and is safe for people and pets when used as directed. Simply spray around areas where mosquitoes linger and enjoy a fly-free outdoor experience!
Nature’s Creation® CedarRepel
Nature’s Creation® CedarRepel Insect Repellent Red Cedar Granules provide effective protection against a wide range of pests, including mosquitoes, ants, beetles, crickets, chiggers, chinch bugs, fleas, flies, gnats, termites, grubs, and scorpions. They also help repel other common nuisances such as slugs, snails, and even snakes. Spread in your flowerbeds, containers or even around the outside edge of your patio to create an additional barrier of protection.
Summit Mosquito Bits®
Summit Mosquito Bits® are an environmentally sound, biological form of mosquito control that stops the larval population with corn cob granules coated in Bti. Mosquito Bits can be sprinkled under gutters, container saucers, or anywhere you have standing water. It is easy to use and effective.
GARDENING TIP #5: GROW BEAUTIFUL SUN-LOVING BLOOMS
Last but not least on our gardening tips list: choose plants that thrive in full sun! Keep your garden looking gorgeous with vibrant, long-lasting color that can handle those bright Texas days. These hardy flowers not only add beauty to your landscape or containers but also help attract and support beneficial pollinators.
Cora® XDR Vinca
Cora® XDR Vinca are striking, showy, vibrant flowers that provide strong color from late spring through fall. These easy to grow flowers have an upright mounding habit and are known for their strong color and profuse blooms in sunny landscapes.
New Gold Lantana
Lantana contains cheerful clusters of flowers in a variety of bright colors! The non-stop blooms are great for attracting pollinators such as butterflies and bees. The blooms are a cluster of flowers with a central stem with rich green pointed leaves that maintain their texture throughout the cooler season. They will shine in your landscape from early summer to mid-fall.
Purslane
Purslane features showy cup-shaped flowers with gold eyes at the ends of the stems. Its small succulent oval leaves remain grayish green in color throughout the season. They are considered drought-tolerant and bring an extremely fine and delicate texture to any garden composition.
Swamp Milkweed
Swamp milkweed is a great perennial to plant in August in North Texas. It handles the late-summer sun well and has time to establish before fall. This native plant supports pollinators—as it is one of the few plants where monarchs will lay their eggs, and its leaves are the perfect food for hungry caterpillars. This milkweed produces beautiful pink blooms that attract butterflies and bees too. It’s drought-tolerant once established and thrives in clay or moist soils, making it a versatile and eco-friendly addition to your garden.
Perennial Hibiscus
A fan favorite! Perennial hibiscus is a bold, sun-loving plant that adds a tropical flair to our gardens. With its Texas-sized blooms in vibrant shades of red, pink, or white, it makes a striking summer statement. These hardy perennials come back year after year and thrive in full sun with consistent moisture. Ideal for borders or focal points, perennial hibiscus will bring long-lasting color and drama to your landscape.
Salvia
Salvia is a versatile perennial that brings vibrant color and movement to the garden with its tall flower spikes and long bloom season. Available in a variety of shades like blue, red, and purple, it’s a favorite among hummingbirds and butterflies. Salvia is easy-to-grow, requires little maintenance, and adds a natural, airy texture to beds, borders, and containers. Its upright growth and repeated blooming make it a standout in any sunny garden space.
Althea
Althea, also known as Rose of Sharon, is a beautiful flowering shrub that adds classic charm to any landscape. With its upright growth and large, hibiscus-like blooms in shades of pink, white, purple, or blue, it creates a stunning focal point from summer into early fall. Althea is adaptable, easy to care for, and works well as a specimen plant, hedge, or backdrop in garden beds. Its long blooming period and ability to attract pollinators make it a favorite for both gardeners and wildlife.
Crapemyrtles
Crapemyrtles are popular ornamental trees known for their vibrant summer blooms and striking bark. Did you know they are a Texas state shrub? Crapemyrtles feature flowers in pink, red, white, and lavender, and provide color from mid-summer into fall. Their attractive, exfoliating bark and graceful branches offer year-round interest. Ideal as specimen trees, privacy screens, or garden accents, Crapemyrtles are low-maintenance and thrive in various soils, making them a lasting favorite.
Vitex
Vitex, or Chaste Tree, is a striking ornamental with fragrant, spiky blooms in lavender, blue, or white. Blooming from late spring through summer, it attracts butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds. Its airy shape and attractive foliage make it ideal as a small tree or large shrub in garden beds. Fast-growing and low-maintenance, vitex provides lasting beauty and supports pollinators year after year.
And there you have it—5 easy tips to help you care for your garden in August! We hope you found this guide helpful. If you did, feel free to share it with a friend and spread the gardening love!
SHOP FOR YOUR GARDEN
Grab your gardening tools and favorite plants at your nearest Calloway’s or Cornelius store and get planting with ease! We make shopping simple with beautiful garden centers ready to explore or shop online and pick up in store!
Have questions about which plants are right for your space? Need some extra guidance on plant care? Our Texas Certified Nursery Professionals are ready to serve you at each one of our neighborhood locations! Visit us today and tap into their knowledge, we’re here to help!
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