Enjoying the end of the Summer and welcoming Autumn

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

See our Plant Finder for useful advice and information on these and other plants.