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 redcurrent 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 heatwaves.
- 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
Vegetables & Herbs
Fruit
The Flower Garden
The Greenhouse
Containers
Trees & Shrubs
Hedges
The Lawn
Wildlife and the Pond
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