Gardener's Calendar - August
Things to do in...
Summer Afternoon.. the two most beautiful words in the English Language. ~Henry James~
August is a time for holidays and harvesting, but there are still plenty of other jobs to be done, in between relaxing in the summer sunshine.
Flower Borders
Walking through the garden with a pair of secateurs in your hand is a good way to spend an afternoon in the garden and tidy it at the same time. Prune out any dead and fading flowers to the next available leaf joint. This, in some cases, will promote more flowering, but at the same time tidy up and re-shape your plant.
Wisteria should be pruned this month, reduce to around 6 buds on the new growth. Perennials (herbaceous) should be cut back this month if flowering has finished and Irises can be lifted and divided for next year.
Towards the end of the month, you can plant your spring bulbs, such as narcissus which are best planted in drifts to give a really natural effect. Try planting them under trees or even in the lawn for a fine show in spring. Visit Redfields where we will be able to advise you on a whole selection.
Camellias should be watered well now, as they will be forming the flowering buds to give you colour later in the year or early next year. Tie in any new growth from your rambling/climbing roses and continue to spray all roses against aphid and black spot.
Vegetable and Fruit Gardens
In the fruit garden, continue to harvest fast maturing crops, such as raspberries. You can always freeze the excess or make lots of jams and jellies. Prune out at least one third of the older wood on blackcurrants and gooseberries on mature plants, this will help promote new fruiting growth for next season. Summer raspberries that have finished fruiting can be pruned to ground level. Tidy up any restricted fruit trees, ie cordons or espaliers.
Strawberries that have finished fruiting can have the straw removed and the new runners can be lifted and potted for next year.
In the vegetable garden, its harvest time. You must harvest fast maturing vegetables, to promote more vegetable growth and reduce stringiness and toughness in vegetables such as runner beans. You can earth up maturing Brussel sprouts to give them support, and earth up main crop potatoes to increase yield.
Keep a watchful eye for any pest and disease and keep watering very regularly.
You can still direct sow some salad crops such as lettuce to prolong your cropping, but take care when thinning out any late sown carrots. The scent can attract carrot fly. A good way to prevent this would be to cover your young seedlings with fleece.
Feed you tomatoes regularly with Tomorite.
Lawns
Remember to keep mowing regularly, however if the weather turns really dry, the rate of growth slows down and it might be a good idea to raise the cut on your mower. This helps the lawn retain moisture. Irrigate if needed and if you are pr emitted.
If you are laying turf remember to water twice a day, especially during dry spells and especially on the edges of the roll.
Patio and Greenhouse Gardening
If you haven’t got your shading sorted out yet, do it this month. Dampen down the floors daily and keep the glasshouse well ventilated. Water freely during hot spells, but do this early morning or late at night. 
Good housekeeping in the glasshouse will help prevent any fungal diseases.
It is also a good idea to put houseplants outside on sunny days, give them protection from direct sun and strong winds. Feed your houseplants in the conservatory if needed.
Water containers and hanging baskets daily and feed once a week. Hyacinths can be planted into bowls now ready for Christmas blooms.
General Tasks
Watering and weeding. It is always best to spray weeds when they are actively growing. Use a weedkiller that contains Glyphosate, as this kills the roots as well. This is good on large areas, but in your borders it will probably be best to dig out.
Watch out for pest and disease problems, some common ones are Red Spider on glasshouse and conservatory plants, powdery mildews, black spot on roses, clematis wilt, caterpillars of the codling moth, mealy bugs and aphids.
Start to think about and plant your autumn containers and baskets for a seamless change in the seasons.
Plants of the Month
A selection of plants that are especially interesting this month.
Hemerocallis
Hostas
Oenothera
Nepeta
English Roses
Hardy Fuchsia
August is a great month to be in the garden, and if you’re looking for ideas or a bit of inspiration visit us at Redfields where our staff can help you with all of the above and MUCH MORE.
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Monday to Saturday
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Address
Ewshot Lane
Telephone
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