Summer in the Garden – 2024 Edition

Howdy, Lakeway gardeners! Buckle up for another sizzling Texas summer! June, July, and August bring scorching temperatures and relentless sunshine, but that doesn’t mean your plants have to wilt. This post is your guide to keeping your green garden thriving through the hottest months. We’ll cover harvesting tips for your summer bounty, strategies for outsmarting the heat, and even how to get a jumpstart on your fall plantings. So, grab your hat, sunscreen, and watering can – it’s time to conquer summer gardening in Lakeway!

LGC Member News

Our next Lakeway Garden Club (LGC) Member Mixer is only a few days away! So mark your calendars for next Thursday, June 6th! We will be talking about drought-tolerant gardening and xeriscaping with native plants, growing herbs and opportunities for volunteering in local garden projects. If you have a request for a future garden topic or a specific question, please let us know or post your garden questions on our LGC Facebook page. All are welcome to join for free before the meeting if they are not already a member. See you at 10:30am on June 6th at the Lake Travis Community Library!

Garden Tips, Local Events and More

Below we have helpful garden advice for your Summer to-do list. You can also visit the Lakeway Garden Club for even more garden tips and tricks. Our Events Calendar showcases many local or online classes and special events happening this summer. And as always, happy gardening!

Gardening Month by Month

Below are some garden tips for June, July and August. Curious about the rest of the year? Visit our website to find all our garden tasks and tips arranged month by month.

June Gardening – harvest time + continued planting

June is a time of great abundance in Lakeway gardens. The summer heat is in full swing, and your garden is starting to bear the fruits of your dedicated labor. Bask in the joy of harvesting your spring crops – tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, and zucchini are all at their peak. Combined they make the perfect ingredients for an authentic Provençal ratatouille (see recipe)! Continue planting heat-loving crops like okra, southern peas, and black-eyed peas for a continuous summer bounty. In addition to harvesting crops, there are three main things to keep in mind as you tend your garden this month. Water your plants regularly, especially during hot, dry weather. Fertilize your plants every few weeks to help them continue to produce. Finally, stay vigilant against pests and diseases that thrive in the warm weather. If you see any problems, take action immediately to prevent them from spreading. See all the info on our website here.

July Gardening – beat the heat and plan for fall

July’s inferno can put even the toughest plants (and gardeners!) to the test. This month is all about survival strategies to beat the heat. As the scorching temperatures arrive, new gardeners might be wondering what they’ve gotten themselves into! But fear not, with some simple planning, your garden can not only survive, but thrive. The key is to prioritize shade for your heat-sensitive plants. Think of it as giving them a cool umbrella during the hottest part of the day. Don’t forget to stay vigilant with watering – everything needs a good drink to keep from drying out. Consider setting up shade cloths, a temporary fabric canopy, to protect your delicate tomato and pepper transplants from the relentless sun. Speaking of tomatoes, July is a great time to try some colorful and delicious varieties like Celebrity, Cherokee Purple, Lemon Boy and Tie Dye Green. Peppers, too, love the heat and are in abundance now. Deep watering in the early mornings is crucial to keep your existing crops hydrated, and shade cloths can be a lifesaver for your more delicate vegetables. But while the summer sun might seem endless, July is also the perfect time to look ahead. This month is ideal for planning your fall garden. Look for heat-tolerant vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, and lettuce to start indoors. These can then be transplanted later for a beautiful and bountiful autumn harvest. See all the info on our website here.

August Gardening – fall garden prep and pest patrol

Last August was like an episode of Survivor: Garden Edition, a.k.a. the wickedly hot Central Texas summer of 2023. Unfortunately if all the La Nina predictions are correct, we will likely be in another state of extreme drought this August under the infamous Central Texas “heat dome”. That makes August a great time to stay inside, grab an ice cold lemonade and continue nurturing your fall garden seedlings. Of course if you’re determined to slog it out in the stifling heat this month, keep in mind that the coolest time to garden is in the very early morning or the last light of evening. Don’t forget to always wear sunscreen, long sleeves and a wide-brimmed SPF hat to protect yourself from the midday sun too! Okra, a heat-loving favorite, will be producing abundantly this month, so enjoy frequent (daily!) harvests. This is also a good time to double down on pest control, as populations of webworms often peak in August. With a little extra care and these helpful tips, your Lakeway garden can continue to be a source of beauty and delicious homegrown food throughout the summer. See all the info on our website here.