As summer gently eases toward autumn, August is an important month in your garden. Here are some key gardening tips and tasks to keep your outdoor space flourishing this month.
General Garden Maintenance
Following plenty of summer activity your garden will likely benefit from a little tidy up, perhaps more so following storm Floris. Go around picking up any debris, tidy any displaced bark, put your stones and pebbles back into their spots, maybe tidy the shed ahead of autumn and winter when things will get packed away, and generally just organise, tidy and sweep up.
Watering
Our summer has been on the drier side so when there hasn’t been a good amount of rainfall watering is top priority; especially anything in a pot or hanging basket. Established plants will have their roots firmly down in the soil and if you have mulched in the spring then the soil should be quite water retentive even now. Be sure to water anything that is relatively newly planted as they’ll need lots of water while their roots are still establishing. Fruit and vegetables may also need continued watering in order to swell up well.
More Mulch
In areas where the spring mulch has broken down or been displaced apply some more such as bark. Look around flowerbeds and vegetable gardens so they can retain moisture through late summer, suppress weeds, and help plants cope with any warm spells.
Deadheading for More Blooms
Continue to deadhead summer blooms such as dahlias, roses, petunias, echinacea, and buddleia to encourage a fresh flush of flowers into autumn. Removing spent blooms redirects energy into new growth, prolonging the flowering season.
Pruning & Tidying
Perennials: Cut back spent flowering perennials, such as hardy geraniums, delphiniums, lupins, yarrow, salvia, and nepeta to stimulate fresh growth and a possible second bloom.
Roses: Deadhead repeat-flowering roses frequently for continuous blooms. Prune rambling and climbing roses after flowering by removing about one-third of the oldest canes and tying in new shoots for next year.
Wisteria: Prune wisteria by shortening new growth back to five leaves and removing spent flower stalks to encourage strong flowering spurs next season.
Lavender & Hebe: Once lavender and hebe have finished flowering, lightly trim flower heads and shape into fresh green growth to encourage strong blooms next year.
Hedges: Give hedges a final trim this month to maintain shape and minimise vigorous autumn growth.
Lawn Care
Mowing Adjustments: If weather remains dry, set your lawnmower blades higher to prevent grass from drying out. Conversely, if wetter conditions prevail, mow regularly but lightly to keep your lawn healthy and prevent moss build-up.
Feed & Aerate: Apply a late-summer lawn feed, and consider aerating the lawn to improve drainage and prepare grass roots for autumn conditions.
Feed and Protect Your Veg
Tomatoes: Pinch out the growing tip of cordon tomatoes by mid-August to focus plant energy on fruit ripening. Maintain regular watering and feeding, and thin foliage to improve air circulation.
Maincrop Potatoes: Begin harvesting maincrop potatoes as foliage dies back. Allow them to dry slightly before storing in a cool, dark place to prevent rot.
General Harvesting: Continue picking ripe apples, pears, raspberries, blackberries, courgettes, beans, cucumbers, and onions. Harvest regularly to encourage continued productivity.
Late Season Crops: Sow late-season salads (lettuce, rocket, Swiss chard, kale).
Pest and Disease Management
Vigilance Required: Watch closely for pests such as aphids, caterpillars, and slugs, thriving in current conditions. Use manual removal or eco-friendly treatments as required.
Fungal Diseases: Inspect plants frequently for mildew and fungal infections after humid spells, promptly removing infected foliage to avoid spreading.
Feed the Birds
Continue feeding birds with appropriate seeds and suet to support them. Keep birdbaths and shallow dishes of water filled and refreshed daily to support local wildlife.
