August in Oxford feels relentless. The heat settles in, the humidity lingers, and the last thing most people want to think about is spending more time outside in the garden. But here is the thing: what you do in your garden right now, even in the thick of summer, has a direct impact on how beautiful your yard looks this fall. At Laurel Tree Garden Center, we want to help you get ahead of the season so that when the temperatures finally start to drop, your outdoor spaces are ready to shine.
The window between late summer and early fall is one of the most productive planting periods of the year in north Mississippi. The soil is warm, which encourages strong root development, and cooler air temperatures are just around the corner to ease the stress on new plants. That combination makes August and early September an ideal time to get things in the ground.
Cool-season annuals are a great place to start. Pansies, snapdragons, and ornamental kale are all excellent choices for adding color once the heat backs off. Starting them now or in early September gives them time to establish before they really hit their stride in October and November. If you have ever admired a neighbor’s porch full of fall blooms and wondered how they did it, the answer is almost always that they started earlier than you would expect.
Fall is also prime time for planting shrubs and perennials. The reduced heat stress means new plants can put their energy into building a healthy root system rather than just surviving. Ornamental grasses, gardenias, and native plants like beautyberry and muhly grass all do particularly well when planted in this window. Muhly grass, with its stunning pink plumes, is one of the most rewarding fall performers you can add to a north Mississippi landscape.
If you have been thinking about adding trees to your property, now is also a smart time to act. Trees planted in late summer and early fall have months to establish roots before the demands of next summer arrive. It is one of those investments that feels small at planting and transformative within just a couple of seasons.
Do not overlook your lawn either. Late summer is the right time to address bare patches, overseed cool-season grasses, and apply a fall fertilizer treatment that sets your yard up for a strong finish to the year. A little attention now saves a lot of catching up in the spring.
The team at Laurel Tree Garden Center is always happy to walk you through what works best for your specific yard, soil type, and sun exposure. North Mississippi has its own personality when it comes to gardening, and local knowledge makes a real difference in what thrives and what struggles.
Fall is one of the most beautiful seasons in Oxford. With a little planning and the right plants, your garden can be a big part of what makes it special.
To learn more about Laurel Tree, call (662) 362-7332 or visit their store at 2500 University Ave, Oxford, MS 38655.
Any content, resident submissions, guest columns, advertisements, and advertorials are not necessarily endorsed by or represent the views of Best Version Media LLC (BVM) or any municipality, homeowners associations, businesses, or organizations that this publication serves. BVM is not responsible for the reliability, suitability, or timeliness of any content submitted, inclusive of materials generated or composed through artificial intelligence (AI). All content submitted is done so at the sole discretion of the submitting party.
