What to Expect in Your Garden This August

Each month Anne Gibson, The Micro Gardener shares gardening tips for our Sunshine Coast climate on Council's Living Smart website. Head over to the site to read the full article, and for info, events and guides to help you on your sustainability journey. 

As winter fades and spring approaches, August brings subtle but important changes to subtropical gardens. 

Expect warming days, cool nights, and the first signs of new growth. 

New buds and flowers forming on a mulberry tree

Citrus, mulberry, and frangipani begin to leaf out, and flowering bulbs and jasmine start to bloom. Insects emerge from hibernation, and birds prepare for nesting—making it a vital time to support pollinators and beneficial bugs.

Top tips 

• Drying winds are common, so mulching and soil protection are key. 
• Lawns may struggle, and weeds can take hold—stay on top of mowing and feed your lawn with compost and minerals. 
• Adjust watering habits as plant growth increases
• refresh old potting mix to support healthy new crops.

What to plant 

August is prime planting time in subtropical Queensland. With soil warming and spring on the horizon, it’s the perfect month to sow a wide variety of vegetables, herbs, fruits, and flowers.

Use dwarf varieties for quick harvests and interplant herbs and flowers to attract beneficial insects. Sow microgreens for fast, nutritious leafy greens and refresh potting mix for container gardens.

Vegetables 

Asian greens, bush beans, beetroot, carrots, celery, kale, lettuce, peas, pumpkin, and zucchini.

Fruits 

Avocado, citrus, mulberry, papaya, passionfruit, and strawberries.

Herbs and Flowers 

Basil, coriander, mint, thyme, calendula, marigold, sweet pea, and nasturtium.

Garden Issues to Watch Out For

August brings new growth and new challenges. As temperatures rise, pests like fruit fly, aphids, scale, and mealybugs become more active. Early intervention is key.

Organic strategies such as interplanting, cloches, and decoys help manage pests naturally and protect your crops.

Fruit fly

Use traps and exclusion netting. Choose early-fruiting or dwarf trees.

Cabbage pests

Plant sacrificial nasturtiums and trap crops like land cress.

Aphids and mealybugs

Attract predatory insects like hoverflies and ladybirds with flowering plants.

Essential Garden Tasks for August

August is a busy month for garden maintenance and preparation. With spring around the corner, now’s the time to:

• prune asparagus, passionfruit, and deciduous fruit trees
• divide and transplant garlic chives and arrowroot
• feed and mulch around fruit trees
• build garden beds and vertical structures
• test soil pH and add amendments
• sow microgreens for quick harvests
• focus on creating nutrient-rich, moisture-holding soil to support healthy growth
• refresh old potting mix
• keep tools in top shape for the season ahead.

Find out more

Anne Gibson is The Micro Gardener. For more detailed info, you can follow Anne on her Website, Facebook