Gardening Tips for August

 Gardening Tips for August

Flowers

• Prune Wistearia by reducing this year's growth to just five or six buds
• Deadhead Roses regularly
• Spray Roses to control black spot mildew and aphids
• Water hanging baskets and containers at least once a day and feed once a week
• Water Camellias regularly as they are now forming next year's flower buds
• Dead head Sweet Peas to increase the flowering season
• Tie in and train new growth on climbing and rambling Roses
• Water newly planted shrubs and perennials in dry conditions
• Late August: remove faded annuals and compost them  

Fruit

• Check nets on fruit cages to make sure that they have not moved or been damaged
• Finish training fruit trees by removing side shoots
• Cut out one or two of the older stems in current bushes to allow new growth
• Remove straw from under Strawberries that have finished fruiting
• Finish picking Raspberries and prune summer varieties down to ground level  

Vegetables

• Concentrate on watering plants in flower and fruit
• Earth up brussel sprouts to give them support as they mature
• Earth up main crop potatoes to give an increased yield
• Keep onions well watered to maximise yield
• Sow salad crops directly into the ground to continue getting fresh plants  

Lawns

• Continue to mow grass raising the height of cut in dry weather
• Irrigate the lawn if allowed to use the hosepipe  

Greenhouse

• Damp down the greenhouse floor each morning to increase humidity
• Pinch out side shoots on tomatoes and feed with Tomorite regularly
• Ensure that all vents are working and close them on cool evenings
• Shade plants to prevent scorching. Use netting or shade paint on the outside  

Ponds

• Continue to feed pond fish
• Remove any blanket weed by twirling it around on a stick
• Check filters on pumps to ensure that they are not blocked
• Remove any plant material that has fallen into the pond to prevent the build up of disease
• Top up as and when necessary  

General Tasks

• Top canes with cane-caps to protect eyes
• Clean paving or slabs with an algicide.
• Put pots of plants into gaps in the borders
• Use a Residual Current Device (RCD) when using any electrical equipment in the garden
• Feed the garden using a granular fertiliser like Growmore or Rose Plus  

Plants which are at their best in August

• Oenothera (Evening Primrose)
• English Roses
• Fuschia (Lady Thumb or Tom Thumb)
• Nepeta Six Hills Giant (Cat Mint)
• Echinops Ritro (Globe Thistle)
• Perovskia (Russian Sage)
• Ground cover Roses
• Hemerocallis (Day Lily)
• Tropaeolum Speciosum (Flame Creeper)
• Hostas  

June

June

Now that summer is here it is important to find time to relax in the garden and enjoy nature's rich tapestry.

July

July

Mid summer and the garden is at its most colourful. The frantic rush of growth has gone and the plants develop into mature shapes and colours. This is the gardening year's peak of achievement.

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