Jobs for the Month - August

August can bring some great weather, but it can also cause some difficult issues for your plants. There really is no excuse not to get out in the garden, and we have plenty of jobs for you!

 

What to Plant: 

  • Autumn-flowering bulbs (autumn-flowering crocus & Nerines)
  • Cauliflowers
  • Strawberry plants

 

What to order: 

  • Pre-order spring-flowering bulbs (for delivery from August onwards)
  • Perennials
  • Shrubs & Trees

 

General Maintenance 
General pruning of fast-growing shrubs and climbers such as Wisteria and Pyracantha will keep your garden tidy. Once flowered, Hebes and Lavenders can also do with a very minimal prune. All Conifer hedging, Box, Pyracantha, and Laurel hedging usually need some attention.  

 
Manage the Border 
Many early and midsummer border perennials that are past their best need cutting back. This will make your border look tidier. Deadhead Dahlias to encourage autumn blooms and deadhead border Roses to encourage autumn hips. 

Water well 
Summer is leaving us shortly, but August can bring some hot, dry weather and water is still an important part of your garden routine. Water deeper for greater efficiency and make sure new growth takes priority. Any plants looking stressed after dry weather should be thoroughly soaked. 
Even if you’re not short of rainwater where you are, it always helps to conserve where possible.  

Lawn Care 
The next few weeks are a key time for lawn care. As well as the weekly mow, fungi and mushrooms require brushing off, whilst moss and thatch require a hard rake to see them off. Lawn weeds are usually prominent and need pulling or treating. Bare patches require re-sowing as September is great for grass seed germination.  

 
Last Chance 
August might be your last chance of a dry spell before the return of wet autumn weather. Now is a great time to give your garden fences or shed a fresh lick of paint. This will help keep your garden looking good through the coming months amidst all those soggy leaves.

 

Top Tips: 

  • Now is the perfect time to prune and shape evergreen hedges as they'll not experience much growth before the autumn months. 
  • Clearing out fallen leaves and debris will reduce the available nutrients for algae and therefore reduce their growth. 
  • Pond weed can get out of hand during August, so a regular clearing of debris and harvest of excess weeds is essential for pond health. 
  • Add mulch to plants to lock in moisture and use recycled rainwater for a more environmentally friendly gardening approach.