What to do in August

In August, summer is at its peak and the garden continues to flourish, but it also requires careful maintenance due to the warmer, often drier weather. It’s a month of harvesting, tidying up and preparing for the later stages of the growing season:

Things to do in August:

Feed and water all plants that need it regularly.
Make sure that the birds have enough water.
Trim hedges regularly.
Prune rambling roses after flowering.
Deadhead flowers as they fade and trim lavender plants after flowering.
Take cuttings from tender perennials such as pelargoniums and fuchsias.
Collect ripening seed from plants you wish to keep.
Layer pinks, rhododendrons and clematis.
Lift and dry onions and cut and dry herbs to store.
Feed and water tomato plants regularly.
Prop up heavily laden fruit tree branches and summer prune gooseberry and redcurrant plants.
Plant new strawberry plants and harvest the first apples and pears.

Last Chance:

Finish summer pruning apples and pears and other trained fruit.
Complete the summer pruning of wisteria.
Plant colchicums for winter flowering.

Getting Ahead:

Start planting spring bulbs especially daffodils.
Divide perennials towards the end of the month and prepare ground for making new lawns.
Sow parsley and pot up herbs for later use.

The Weather

Generally warm, but a slight cooling compared to July with average day time temperatures ranging from 20°C to 22°C and night time temperatures between 12°C and 14°C. There is still the possibility of heat waves.
Rainfall can be higher than in July, especially in the form of heavy summer showers or thunderstorms.
Lots of sunshine, but increasingly variable weather, with some cooler, cloudy days.

General Tasks

Weeding:	Keep weeding regularly, as weeds will continue to grow rapidly in the summer warmth. Remove them before they have a chance to set seed.
Watering:	With warmer temperatures, watering becomes especially important, especially for vegetables, fruit and newly planted trees. Water in the early morning or late evening to avoid evaporation and prevent fungal diseases. Ensure deep watering to encourage roots to grow deeper.
Mulching:	Apply mulch to beds and borders, particularly around newly planted or drought-sensitive plants, to conserve moisture and reduce weed growth.
Deadheading:	Continue deadheading flowers such as roses, dahlias, petunias and other bedding plants to encourage further flowering and to keep plants looking tidy.
Pest control:	Watch for pests like aphids, slugs, caterpillars and spider mites. Use organic methods, such as hand-picking, insecticidal soap, or neem oil, if needed.

Vegetables & Herbs

Harvesting:	Continue harvesting vegetables such as tomatoes, courgettes, cucumbers, beans and peas. Keep picking regularly to encourage more growth. Sweetcorn are ready for harvesting when the tassels turn brown and milky liquid comes from the kernels when pinched with a fingernail. Keep cutting cut-and-come salads to encourage more to sprout. Continue lifting potatoes and also onions when their foliage browns and wilts.
Storage:	Excess beans and peas can be frozen; potatoes should be stored somewhere dark and dry.
Sow fast-growing crops:	Sow quick-growing vegetables like radishes, lettuce and salad greens for a late summer/early autumn harvest. You can also sow spinach and mustard for autumn.
Harvest herbs:	Harvest herbs like basil, mint, parsley and coriander regularly to keep them growing. Dry or freeze excess herbs for later use in winter.
Prune tomatoes:	For tomato plants, continue to pinch out side-shoots and remove any yellowing or diseased leaves. This will encourage more energy into fruit production. If you see signs of blight on tomatoes (also applies to potatoes) remove and dispose of the infected growth (but not on the compost heap).
Feeding:	Fast growing crops (courgettes, pumpkins, tomatoes, cucumbers) should be given a weekly feed.
Pests:	Watch out for pests such as slugs, aphids and caterpillars on vegetables and herbs and take action to keep them in check.
Water and feed vegetables:	Ensure your vegetables are receiving regular deep watering's especially those in containers. Feed them with a high-potash liquid fertiliser to support fruiting and vegetable growth.

Fruit

Harvesting:	This is a great time to harvest soft fruits like strawberries, raspberries, blackberries and currants. Continue to pick apples, pears and plums as they ripen.
Thin fruit trees:	For apple and pear trees, thin out excess fruit if you haven’t already, to help the remaining fruit grow larger.
Support fruiting plants:	Ensure fruiting plants like tomatoes, cucumbers and pumpkins are well-supported with stakes or trellises
Pests:	Be vigilant about pests on fruit crops, particularly aphids and caterpillars. If necessary, use organic treatments or insecticidal soap to control them.
Water fruit plants:	Ensure that fruit trees, particularly young trees and berry bushes receive adequate water during dry spells, especially while they are fruiting.

The Flower Garden

Deadhead flowers:	Deadhead flowering plants regularly to promote further blooms and maintain a tidy appearance. This is particularly important for summer bedding plants and long-blooming perennials.
Prune summer-flowering shrubs:	Prune back spent flowers on summer-flowering shrubs like hydrangeas, buddleia and lavender to encourage more blooms and tidy up the plants.
Watering:	Ensure that your flower beds and containers are watered deeply. Flowers in containers are particularly vulnerable to drying out, so check moisture levels daily in hot weather.
Stake tall plants:	Make sure tall plants like sunflowers, hollyhocks and delphiniums are securely staked to prevent them from toppling over in wind or rain.
Collect seed:	Start collecting seeds from flowering plants that have finished blooming, such as sweet peas and poppies, for next year’s sowing.

The Greenhouse

Harvesting:	Continue harvesting tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers and any other crops you have growing in the greenhouse. Remove ripe fruit to encourage the plant to produce more.
Prune and tie in growth:	Prune any excess growth on plants like tomatoes and cucumbers and ensure all vines are tied in securely to their supports to prevent overcrowding.
Watering:	Greenhouse plants, particularly tomatoes, cucumbers and peppers, need regular watering to keep up with growth and fruit production. Avoid letting the soil dry out completely.
Feeding:	Continue feeding greenhouse plants, especially tomatoes and cucumbers, with a high-potassium liquid fertiliser to support fruit development.
Ventilation:	Keep the greenhouse well-ventilated during hot spells to prevent overheating and maintain good airflow.

Containers

Watering:	Containers dry out quickly, so water them regularly, particularly in hot weather. Consider using self-watering containers or adding water-retaining granules to the compost to reduce watering frequency.
Feeding:	Continue feeding plants in containers with a liquid fertiliser every couple of weeks to ensure they have the nutrients they need to keep growing.
Deadhead container plants:	Deadhead annuals and perennials in containers regularly to encourage more blooms and keep the plants looking fresh.
Pests:	Inspect container plants for signs of pests such as aphids, mealy bugs or whiteflies. Treat as necessary using organic pest control methods.

Trees & Shrubs

Prune summer flowering shrubs:	After flowering, prune summer-flowering shrubs such as hydrangeas, buddleia and lavenders. This encourages fresh growth for the next season.
Watering:	Keep trees and shrubs watered during dry spells, especially newly planted ones. Apply water at the base of the plant rather than overhead to prevent disease.
Mulch trees:	Apply a layer of mulch around the base of trees and shrubs to conserve moisture and regulate soil temperature. Be sure to keep mulch away from the plant stems to avoid rot.
Pests:	Monitor for pests such as aphids, caterpillars and scale insects. Treat trees and shrubs as necessary to prevent damage.

Hedges

Trim hedges:	Trim hedges, particularly those of fast-growing species like privet, boxwood or leylandii, to maintain a tidy appearance. Trim after the main flush of growth.
Water newly planted hedges:	Ensure that newly planted hedges receive regular watering to help them establish roots during the warmer months.
Pests:	Inspect hedges for signs of pest activity, such as aphids or caterpillars and deal with infestations promptly.

The Lawn

Mowing:	Mow the lawn weekly to keep it neat. Raise the cutting height slightly during hot weather to protect the grass from drought stress.
Watering:	During dry periods, water the lawn deeply to encourage deep root growth. Water in the early morning or evening to reduce evaporation.
Feeding:	Apply a slow-release fertiliser or a summer feed with added iron to keep the lawn healthy and green throughout the summer.
Weeds:	Continue to remove weeds, especially in areas where they have become established. Spot-treat with a selective herbicide if necessary.

Wildlife and the Pond

Check water levels:	Ensure the water level in the pond is sufficient, especially during hot spells. Top up with rainwater or dechlorinated tap water as needed.
Clear debris:	Remove fallen leaves, twigs and other debris from the pond to maintain water quality. Consider using a pond net to prevent leaf litter from entering the water.
Check for algae:	If algae is becoming a problem, remove it manually or use an appropriate algaecide. Oxygenating plants can help reduce the growth of algae.
Wildlife:	Keep an eye out for pond wildlife such as tadpoles, dragonflies or frogs. Ensure the pond has easy access points for amphibians and other creatures to enter and exit. Consider adding more floating plants or water lilies to provide shade, which helps keep the water temperature stable and reduces algae growth.

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