By Alicia Paaso - Gardenscape Sales Team/RHS Level 2 Horticulturalist
August is an incredible summer month for garden maintenance, harvesting crops, and preparing for the season ahead. We are right in the heart of summer with an abundance of flowers to admire, and the garden overflowing with vegetables, fruit and herbs ready for harvesting. Make the most of the summer warmth with plenty of gardening tasks to enjoy before temperatures gradually drop come September. Read below for ideas on what to do in your garden this August!
Early-summer flowering blooms are starting to look a bit tired as they switch their energy from flowering to seed formation. Deadhead your fading flowers to encourage further flower production and keep displays looking fresh. It also prevents self-seeding and reduces the need for clearing scattered petals. Deadhead flowers as soon as they start to fade but leave the flower heads you want to collect seed from later.
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Sowing seeds from plants you’ve grown yourself is both rewarding and cost-effective. They are proven to grow well in your garden’s climate and growing conditions, and you will save money too! Seeds from plants such as sweet peas, carrots, foxgloves, and beans can all be collected now. Ideally, collect seeds on a dry day to prevent mould developing during storage, then simply store the seeds in labelled paper seed envelopes in a cool, dark spot. |
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Before your flowers fade, cut a few to bring indoors for some seasonal beauty. Many chrysanthemum and dahlia varieties flower this time of the year and make beautiful arrangements. Hydrangeas are also a great option with their stunning full flower heads. For long-lasting cut flowers, cut them on an early, cool morning when the stems are turgid. |
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Late August marks the start of lawn renovation season, with ideal conditions for grass seeding and turfing. The soil is still warm, with plenty of soil moisture for seed germination and root establishment. Your future self will thank you for getting the area of your lawn ready now. Level and rake the soil, removing stones and weeds as you go. For the best results, consider investing in a finely screened topsoil, such as TS6 5mm. We offer a wide variety of grass seed, as well as high-quality turf. Get all your lawn essentials now so you are ready to work when the conditions are perfect. |
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Prune your wisteria in August by removing about 20 cm of the side shoots to keep it neat, improve circulation, and encourage flower production. Lavender and rambling roses benefit from pruning after flowering. If your garden waste bin is overflowing this time of the year, why not fill up one of our bulk bags and use our waste bag collection service!
Happy gardening this August!