The garden in August

Herbaceous

Dead head dying back flower heads and remove any supports you may have put in place earlier in the year. Cut off tall weak stems. Collect seed from plants you may wish to grow next year. Above all, keep watering your garden, especially hanging baskets and planters.

Hedges

These can be cut in August to enable the following growth to be winter hardy. The bottom of the hedge may need weeding.

Water features and aquatic plants

Keep an eye on aphids and other pests. Thin heavy growth from oxygenating plants. Top up water features as and when necessary, especially if there are long hot spells. If the weather is particularly warm, aerate the water when filling it up or leave water features running over night. Keep on top of weeds in your bog garden.


Lawns

Mow the lawn at regular intervals at the summer height, and water if dry. Use a selective weed killer on weeds that may appear. If you have been away on holiday cut the lawn at a higher height than you would normally do at this time of year, then down to the normal height a few days later. Feed with a nitrogen rich fertilizer.


General

• Root cuttings can be taken from shrubs like heather, hydrangeas and fuchsias.
• Keep on top of weeds and continue to watch for pests and diseases.
• Good time to prune wisteria.
• Dead head rose blooms but do not add fertilizer to them as this encourages soft growth which will not withstand the winter.
• Gladioli can be cut to be used indoors.
• Mulch, feed and water sweet peas.

The garden advice and plant information above has been created as accurately as possible, but localised weather conditions and yearly variations in climate mean that information should be used as a general guide only and acted upon accordingly.

Click here to log into your account page. (You will need your username and password).