Back to School & Back to the Garden!
Hello, Garden Friends! π»
August always feels like a little transition. Summer is still hanging on, but we’re beginning to think about cooler days, fall gardens, andβof courseβback to school!
For teachers, a new school year is a wonderful opportunity to bring a little bit of nature into the classroom. Plants can brighten up a room, give students something living to care for, and create a beautiful connection between the classroom and the natural world.
So grab your gardening gloves and let’s dig into August!
ππ± 1. Classroom Plants: Bring a Little Garden to School
If you’re a teacher looking for an easy-care plant for your classroom, there are plenty of wonderful choices. The key is choosing plants that can handle indoor conditions and don’t require constant attention.
πΏ Snake Plant
One of my favorite classroom choices!
Snake plants are incredibly forgiving and can tolerate lower light and periods of dryness. They also have an upright shape that doesn’t take up much desk space.
Classroom tip: Let students take turns checking the soil and learning when the plant actually needs water.
π± Pothos
Pothos is another fantastic classroom plant because it’s fast-growing and easy to care for.
Its trailing vines can be placed on a shelf where students can watch the plant grow throughout the school year.
Fun lesson: Have students measure the vines each month and keep a growth chart!
πΏ Spider Plant
Spider plants are fun because they produce little baby plants, called plantlets, that hang from the mother plant.
This gives students a chance to learn about how plants reproduce and even propagate their own little spider plants.
π΅ A Small Succulent
A small succulent can make a great student desk plant.
They need bright light and don’t need frequent watering, making them a good choice for a classroom where everyone occasionally forgets the watering schedule. π
Teacher Tip: Consider creating a small “Classroom Garden Corner” where students can observe, sketch, measure, and learn about the plants throughout the year.
πΏ 2. Two Herbs You Can Grow in Containers in August
Don’t put those porch pots away just yet! August is a great time to continue growing herbs in containers.
πΏ Mint
Mint is one of the easiest herbs to grow in a container.
It enjoys bright light and regular watering and grows quickly once established.
Container tip: Always grow mint in its own pot. In the garden, it can spread enthusiastically and become a little too comfortable!
Use fresh mint in iced tea, lemonade, fruit salads, or summer desserts.
πΏ Cilantro
Cilantro is a wonderful herb to start in late summer as temperatures begin to moderate.
Give it:
- βοΈ Bright light
- π§ Consistent moisture
- πͺ΄ A container with good drainage
- π± Succession planting every few weeks for a continuous harvest
Cilantro grows quickly, making it especially rewarding for beginner gardeners.
Garden tip: Once plants begin flowering and producing seeds, allow some seeds to mature. You can collect them to use as coriander!
πΈ 3. Start Thinking About Fall Color!
Don’t wait until September to think about your fall flower garden. August is a great time to start planningβand in some areas, plantingβflowers that will carry your garden beautifully into autumn.
𧑠1. Marigolds
Marigolds are little garden sunshine machines!
Choose golden yellow, orange, or deep red varieties for a beautiful fall-inspired color palette.
Tip: Keep deadheading spent flowers and your marigolds can continue blooming well into fall.
π 2. Chrysanthemums
No fall garden feels complete without chrysanthemums!
Look for mums in shades of:
- Burgundy
- Deep purple
- Golden yellow
- Orange
- Rust
- Red
Tip: When buying mums, choose plants covered in unopened buds rather than plants already in full bloom. You’ll get to enjoy the flowers for much longer.
β€οΈ 3. Celosia
Want something a little different?
Add celosia! Their unusual, feathery or crested blooms bring fantastic texture to fall containers and garden beds.
Look for fiery shades of red, orange, yellow, and burgundy.
Tip: Celosia loves warmth and sunshine, making it a wonderful choice for extending your summer garden into the first weeks of fall.
π» A Little Garden Inspiration for August
August reminds us that gardening isn’t just about growing beautiful flowers and delicious herbs. It’s also about learning, slowing down, and connecting with nature.
For teachers, a classroom plant can become a science experiment.
For kids, a tiny seed can become a lesson in patience.
And for all of us, a few colorful flowers on the porch can bring a little joy at the end of a long summer day.
πΏ Until next time, keep growing!
What plant would you love to have in your classroom or workspace this year? I’d love to hear what you’re growing!
Happy Gardening! π±π
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