If you don’t have a yard, container gardening can offer the perfect compromise, allowing you to partake in gardening regardless of how big your space is. However, it’s also important to understand that keeping plants healthy and happy within containers often requires different practices than traditional gardening.

That’s particularly true in August, when you might find that your garden is in need of some extra support. To help you give your plants the care they need in late summer, we asked a gardening expert for her top container garden refresh tips.

Give Stressed Plants Extra Support

By late summer, environmental stressors like inconsistent moisture and high heat can leave some container garden plants in need of additional support. Rebecca Sears, the CMO and gardening authority at Ferry-Morse, recommends treating these plants to a vitamin solution.

“It’s important to remember that a vitamin solution isn’t a replacement for fertilizer, so plants should still receive the nutrients, water, and other care appropriate for their individual needs,” Sears adds.

Reconsider Your Watering Routine

As summer progresses and container plants grow, their watering needs might change—especially as warm August weather often leads to potting mix drying out more quickly.

“Rather than watering strictly on a schedule, check the soil regularly and water thoroughly when the plant needs it, allowing excess water to drain freely from the container,” Sears says.

If your garden’s potting soil has grown extremely dry, it might begin to resist absorbing water. In that case, try watering it slowly and thoroughly until it has regained enough hydration.

Replenish Your Garden’s Nutrients

Months of active growth and regular watering can lead to container plants using up some of the nutrients originally present in their potting mix. Giving your plants the right fertilizer can help boost flowering throughout the season, but Sears cautions against employing a one-and-done fertilizer approach.

“Because containers hold a limited amount of soil, it’s especially important to keep up with their nutrient needs as the season progresses,” she notes.

Trim and Deadhead Spent Foliage

Once August rolls around, spent foliage and flowers can make your container garden look particularly stressed. Common container plants like marigolds and zinnias benefit especially from deadheading, which allows them to focus energy on making more flowers as opposed to seed production.

“When deadheading, cut spent blooms back to a healthy set of leaves or a developing flower bud rather than simply removing the flower head,” Sears says.

Use sharp, clean pruners or snips to avoid spreading bacteria, disease, and pests between plants. Be sure to put what you’ve cut off in the compost or a waste bag to avoid having the area around your planters look bad. A few leafy cuttings on the ground may look fine now, but once they’re shriveled, crisp, and brown, they’re an eyesore.

If Your Container Plants Look Tired in August, Here’s How to Refresh Them Without Starting Over by Abby Monteil | The Spruce