August in Bloom: Gardening Tips

Typically, August is the hottest year of the month which is why you need to ensure your garden is getting that extra bit of care. If you plan to be away, make sure you have plans to have your garden watered so that all your hard work caring for your plants isn’t lost and they can continue to flourish while you are away.

Now is a great time to sit back and enjoy your garden and the work you have put into it over the past few months.   

August gardening jobs

Flowers

Make sure you are watering flower beds, hanging baskets, pots, and planters regularly as they can dry out quickly in the sun.

Taking regular cuttings and collecting any seeds when they become available will mean you have a good stock for next year.

Think ahead to next year by sowing hardy annuals in areas that are guaranteed to get the sun as you will get a lovely range of summer colours early next summer.

Vegetables

Water your vegetables frequently and pluck out flowers and suckers if you are growing tomatoes to encourage more fruiting. Now is the time to sow your winter salad vegetables such as rocket and lamb’s lettuce.

Herbs can be picked, dried, and frozen to use out of season.

Greenhouse

If you have a greenhouse, you must make sure you protect it from the strongest sunshine. Water regularly and increase the humidity by watering the ground.

Harvesting the following vegetables will encourage further growth:

• Tomatoes
• Cucumbers
• Peppers
• Runner beans
• Cabbage
• Cauliflower
• Broccoli

Be on the watch for pests that can destroy your greenhouse plants and treat them accordingly. Plant winter and autumn flowering bulbs to prepare for colder months.

Lawn

Try to refrain from mowing the lawn too much this month – leaving your grass slightly longer than normal can help it battle the heat. Keep on top of weeds, and dead-head plants around your borders to help with flowering.

Most important of all, take this time to enjoy the fruits of your labour!