GEORGIA

Your crape myrtles have worked hard all summer, and August is not the time to forget about them. Before the month ends, give these flowering favorites some attention so they can finish the season in better shape. Georgia heat can leave plants under stress, even when those blooms make everything look perfectly fine from the…

Virginia buttonweed can make a maintained lawn look frustratingly untidy. If you spot it spreading through your grass, resist the urge to start pulling. This stubborn weed has a growth habit that makes quick hand removal tricky. In Georgia lawns, one hasty move can leave behind material capable of growing again. That is why grabbing…

Fresh holes scattered through your lawn can quickly make you suspect moles. Before deciding what caused the damage, take a closer look at those marks. Armadillos can leave behind clues that look different once you know what matters. Georgia homeowners may spot their feeding activity where insects are easy to reach. That distinction matters because…

Few things are more disheartening than walking out to the garden after a summer thunderstorm and finding your best tomatoes split wide open right when they were almost ready to pick. It’s one of those Georgia garden moments that feels deeply unfair, especially after weeks of careful watering and patient waiting. The culprit is usually…

Overgrown wisteria can turn from a beautiful feature into a tangled mess fast. Before fall arrives, give those wandering vines attention. By August, long shoots may be stretching beyond the space you intended for them. In Georgia, this is the time to assess that unruly summer growth. Do not start cutting everything because the plant…

Not every unfamiliar beetle on your property deserves the same response. One shiny green visitor can actually be worth leaving alone when you notice it nearby. The six-spotted tiger beetle stands out with its metallic body and impressive speed. It hunts other small creatures rather than settling onto your favorite plants for a meal. You…

Caterpillars are tearing through Georgia lawns faster than sprays can handle, and pesticides that worked last year barely slow them now. Patches of brown grass appear across your yard almost overnight. Nothing about the pattern resembles ordinary drought stress, yet Georgia gardeners report identical damage popping up county by county. Treatments applied exactly by label…

Georgia still feels like midsummer on an August weekend, but the vegetable garden already has one foot in fall. Tomatoes may steam in the sun. Raised beds feel hot enough to cook on. Nothing about the afternoon suggests cool-season crops belong anywhere near that soil. Yet the calendar says otherwise. Beets, carrots, collards, kale, mustard,…

You might be making your yard more inviting to coyotes without realizing anything has changed. One ordinary backyard habit can give these curious visitors a reason to come closer. Coyotes are adaptable and quickly notice places where an easy meal may be available. Around Georgia homes, small everyday choices can make a yard worth checking…

You may be leaving ripe persimmons on the tree longer than necessary because of one stubborn gardening myth. Waiting for frost sounds sensible, but the fruit itself gives you better clues. Many Georgia homeowners have heard that persimmons need cold weather before they become sweet enough to enjoy. That advice can make harvest timing far…

Your irises may look quiet right now, but late August is a good time to give them some attention. One simple task can make a noticeable difference when their next growing season arrives. Georgia’s summer weather can leave established iris clumps crowded after several years in the same spot. That crowding is easy to overlook…

August pepper growing in Georgia is not for the faint of heart, and if you have watched a perfectly healthy plant drop its flowers and stall out during a stretch of brutal summer heat, you already know the frustration firsthand. Scorching afternoons, thick humidity, unpredictable rainfall, and soil that heats up faster than seems reasonable…

A soggy corner of your yard does not have to stay bare or become a constant gardening headache. The right shrub can turn that difficult space into something worth noticing. Georgia gardens often have low areas where moisture lingers after rain. Many familiar landscaping favorites simply struggle when their roots stay wet for too long….

Those mushrooms popping through your lawn may look like you should remove them immediately. Before you grab a bag or mower, take a closer look at what is happening. Mushrooms often appear when moisture and organic material create the right conditions beneath the grass. In Georgia, warm and humid weather can make those conditions noticeable….

Your lawn was fine last week. Now there are ragged brown patches spreading across it, and no amount of watering seems to fix it. Armyworms are eating your grass from the inside out, and they’re moving fast. Entire sections can turn crispy within a matter of days, especially during Georgia’s hottest summer stretches. They feed…

A Georgia storm can expose every weak decision in the yard within an hour. Rain pounds the beds. Wind bends branches. Water gathers in low spots that looked perfectly harmless yesterday. Then the clouds move on, and suddenly some shrubs look completely unfazed while others seem personally offended by the weather. That difference is not…

Those long flower clusters have finished their show, but your crape myrtle can still give you something new before summer slips away. Late August opens a useful propagation window. Healthy shoots from this season can become the beginning of entirely new plants with surprisingly little plant material today. This is where Georgia gardeners can turn…

Dusk can suddenly feel much busier when dark shapes begin sweeping above your yard just as daylight starts fading. Those quick turns overhead are easy to miss until several bats appear together. This month can make their evening activity especially noticeable around Georgia homes. Look toward open areas near trees when the sky begins growing…

Your blackberry patch still needs attention after the final bowl of ripe summer berries leaves the garden. Fruit production may be finished, but the plants are already shifting into another important stage. What you do now can influence how manageable and productive the patch becomes. For Georgia gardeners, this seasonal transition is the right moment…

August is one of the more interesting months to watch for monarchs in a Georgia yard, sitting right at that overlap between late summer breeding and the early edges of fall migration. Some monarchs are still laying eggs, caterpillars are still feeding, and adults are starting to fuel up for the long journey ahead, all…

Something lightning-fast may streak through your yard before you even get a good look at what just passed. Six-lined racerunners rarely sit around waiting to be noticed. Their quick movements can turn a simple walk outside into an unexpected wildlife sighting. August heat gives Georgia homeowners a better chance of catching these speedy lizards in…

Brown coneflower heads can look like a clear signal to grab your pruners, but cutting them immediately may not be your best move. Those faded blooms still have something to offer. What you do with them now can shape what happens around your garden later. In Georgia, coneflowers naturally reach this stage as their summer…

Your garden feels different this summer, and it’s not just the heat playing tricks on you. The bees that used to crowd your tomato blossoms? Barely a hum these days. The butterflies that drifted past your porch every afternoon have quietly skipped town, and the hummingbirds followed close behind. Something is pulling pollinators out of…

A green pecan on the lawn in mid-August can look like bad news before you pick it up. Then another drops. And another. In Georgia, that timing matters. Pecan trees naturally shed some nuts each year, and August can bring a fourth physiological drop tied to embryo development. At the same time, susceptible cultivars reach…

Few backyard visitors are as easy to hear yet surprisingly difficult to spot as the yellow billed cuckoo. Its secretive nature makes an appearance near your home feel especially worth noticing. Listen carefully when a strange call comes from thick summer foliage. The bird may remain hidden even while something fascinating is happening among the…

Brown patches that seem to appear out of nowhere can make a healthy lawn look completely different within days. When the change happens fast, something beneath the grass may deserve your attention. One small lawn pest can feed so aggressively that damaged areas become noticeable surprisingly quickly. The grass may first look thirsty, making the…

Chamberbitter can look harmless when only a few stems appear between your lawn or garden plants. Ignore those small patches, though, and this stubborn weed can quickly become much harder to control. Getting ahead of it requires good timing rather than simply pulling whatever greenery catches your eye. You need to recognize the plant and…

Not every strange creature on your leaves deserves to be chased out of the garden. One especially unusual visitor may actually be doing valuable work while you barely notice it. Its appearance certainly does not inspire confidence at first. With a strange body and unfamiliar features, this tiny hunter can easily be mistaken for something…

Pruning shears can stay in the shed when extreme summer heat has your garden under pressure. Cutting certain plants now may create extra stress when they are already working hard to handle harsh conditions. That fresh trim might seem helpful, especially when branches look messy or growth feels overgrown. Timing, however, can matter more than…

The new growth at the top of a Georgia tomato plant tells you more than the fruit does. When those young leaves start cupping inward and losing their color, the plant is already rationing what it has left. Run a finger along the stem and it comes away tacky. That residue is not sap, and…

Georgia can rearrange a yard in twenty noisy minutes. One thunderstorm rolls through. The porch pots fill to the rim. Tomato vines sag under split fruit. A young tree that stood straight at lunch suddenly leans toward the driveway. Then the clouds move on, and everything looks calm again. That quiet is when the useful…

Late August can bring plenty of hummingbird activity, and one native flower can make your garden especially inviting. Its bright blooms arrive when these tiny visitors are actively searching for reliable food sources. You might notice hummingbirds returning to the same flowering patch throughout the day. That repeated attention is exactly what makes this plant…

Seeing a gopher tortoise making its way through your yard can stop you in your tracks. If you have never spotted one there before, the sudden visit naturally raises questions. Do not assume it simply took a wrong turn. Gopher tortoises move through their surroundings for several reasons, and your property may have caught its…

Your hibiscus looked full earlier this summer, but now those long stems are making it look thin and uneven. Before you start cutting, know that a few careful choices can improve its shape. Leggy growth can happen quickly during warm weather, especially when stems stretch toward stronger light. You do not need to remove too…

August in Georgia has a reputation, and it earns it every single year. The sun is relentless, the ground bakes hard, and rainfall has a habit of disappearing for weeks at a stretch right when the garden needs it most. Keeping a summer landscape looking good through all of that can start feeling less like…

Those hydrangeas may look ready for a quick trim, but reaching for the pruners now could cost you flowers. Timing matters more than many gardeners realize with these popular shrubs. Before cutting back anything that looks messy, consider how your hydrangea produces its blooms. Some varieties are already preparing the growth that will carry flowers…

Privet may seem like an easy choice for backyard privacy, but there is a better option worth considering. Your yard can feel more private without relying on the same familiar hedge. Think beyond a plain green wall when choosing what belongs along your property line. The right shrub can bring privacy while giving the space…

Your grass looked perfectly fine yesterday. Today it’s thinning out in odd patches, and there’s no obvious reason why. Something is feeding on your lawn after dark, working fast and leaving almost no trace behind. Georgia homeowners have started noticing the exact same pattern this season, usually right after a warm, humid stretch. Turns out,…

August can make a Georgia garden look overdue for a hard reset. Flower spikes lean, vines wander, leaves show heat stress, and a pair of pruners starts looking very persuasive. Hummingbirds have other priorities. Ruby-throated hummingbirds are still abundant across Georgia in late summer, and many are building energy reserves or moving south during migration….

A gray fox slipping through your yard can leave you wondering what made your property worth a visit. Chances are, something nearby has caught its attention. These secretive animals often move quietly and may disappear before you get a good look. In Georgia, yards can sometimes provide useful resources as foxes travel through their surroundings….

If mosquitoes are making your August evenings less enjoyable, your garden may have room for a fascinating natural predator. Dragonflies can make those warm outdoor hours much more interesting. These fast-flying hunters feed on mosquitoes and other small insects throughout their adult lives. In Georgia, the right garden conditions can make your yard more welcoming…

A good August rain can reveal more about your lawn than you might expect. Once hard summer soil softens, signs of activity beneath the grass can suddenly become much easier to uncover. This matters in Georgia because some lawn pests spend much of their time hidden underground. You could walk across affected turf every day…

A Georgia hydrangea can look healthy from the sidewalk while something pale is already changing across a few hidden leaves. The first clue may be no larger than a fingertip. It can sit inside the canopy, cling to tender new growth, or appear where shade holds humidity longer after sunset. From a distance, the shrub…

Spring may feel far away, but your azaleas are not waiting for it to arrive. Look closely at the branch tips now, and you may spot the first evidence of next year’s flower display. Many familiar azaleas in Georgia begin forming flower buds during summer. These developing buds can be easy to miss because they…

Those new spots on your tomato leaves deserve a closer look after rainy summer weather. They can be an early sign that moisture has created favorable conditions for common tomato diseases. Warm, humid conditions in Georgia can keep foliage damp longer than gardeners realize. That extra moisture gives several fungal and bacterial diseases a better…

A Georgia garden can look generous in June and suddenly feel stingy by late July. The lawn fades. Clay hardens. Containers need constant attention, and many familiar flowers stop offering much to bees and butterflies right when summer heat is at its worst. Pollinators notice that gap. They still need nectar and pollen, even when…

Brown patches showing up in a green lawn deserve more than a quick glance. Look closely before you assume the grass simply needs another round of water. Several completely different lawn issues can create similar brown areas. That is exactly why treating the first thing that comes to mind can send you in the wrong…

Georgia weather can make a shrub border feel like it is being tested from opposite directions. One stretch brings hard ground, wilted lawns, and weeks without meaningful rain. Then summer storms arrive and leave clay soil holding water around roots for days. Boxwood does not always enjoy that swing. Several Georgia-native shrubs are better equipped…

If nandina has been your default choice for filling an empty spot, there is a native shrub worth considering instead. You may like what it brings to the yard. This alternative offers plenty of character without feeling like a compromise. Its foliage, flowers, and seasonal changes can keep the planting interesting beyond summer. For Georgia…

Fireflies flashing around the yard after a summer storm can make an ordinary evening feel completely different. If you enjoy that glow, your planting choices deserve some attention. These insects spend far more of their lives close to the ground than their nighttime display suggests. What grows there can shape the habitat available to them….

A Georgia hydrangea can look healthy at breakfast and completely defeated by late afternoon during a stretch of 95-degree heat. Leaves sag. Flower heads droop. Stems lose their posture, and the entire shrub can seem to change within a few hours. The instinct is immediate: something must be wrong, and something needs to happen before…

Early September feels like a fresh start in the vegetable garden. Summer crops begin slowing down, but another growing season is just getting started. Many gardeners wait too long before planting again. Missing this window can mean smaller harvests later in the year. Cool-season vegetables enjoy conditions that arrive after the hottest weather begins to…

Zinnias and coneflowers are two of the most reliable summer bloomers a Georgia gardener can grow, but keeping both of them happy through the same brutal stretch of heat, humidity, and unpredictable rainfall is a little more nuanced than most people expect. These are not identical plants with identical needs, and treating them that way…

Most backyard upgrades cost money, but this one can start with a simple clay pot. It looks almost too ordinary to matter, yet more Georgia gardeners are giving toads a place to hide. That small shelter can quietly change how your garden feels during summer. Instead of reaching for another spray, let nature lend a…

For years, hydrangeas held court in Georgia gardens, demanding shade, constant water, and endless patience. That reign is starting to crack. A native shrub is quietly stealing the spotlight, one most homeowners have never even noticed growing wild nearby. It shrugs off scorching afternoons, laughs at drought, and still puts on a show worth bragging…

A Georgia privacy screen can look impressive for years, then suddenly reveal every weakness at once. One plant opens a gap. Another leans after a storm. The row that once blocked a patio view starts demanding ladders, constant trimming, and awkward repairs just to keep the boundary looking intentional. Replacing the whole thing with another…

Heavy summer rain can be great for a thirsty garden, but your fig tree may tell a different story. Too much moisture can leave behind changes worth noticing. In Georgia, downpours can keep soil wet and put extra pressure on fig trees. The tricky part is knowing which changes deserve your attention. Take a closer…