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Gardening tips for August

Gardening Tips for August

August is the time to relax in the garden enjoying long summer days. Watering is key this month, especially container-grown plants but also borders of shrubs, trees and herbaceous. Regular feeding and dead heading will keep the garden looking its best until autumn.

Gardening Tips for June

Terrace Garden

  • Regularly water container plants, daily in very warm weather, adding a liquid fertiliser, like tomato feed every other week to encourage strong, healthy, growth and continual flowering through to the autumn. Remove spent flowers to encourage more to grow.
  • If you’re going away, move containers into the shade to help reduce drying out, or for longer holiday breaks consider installing an automatic irrigation system.
  • If you need to replace any plants that have suffered from lack of water visit your local Dobbies Garden Centre for fresh ideas perfect for adding late summer colour.
Gardening tips for August

Beds & Borders

  • Prune early summer flowering shrubs, such as Deutzia, Weigela and Philadelphus. Remove branches that have flowered with secateurs or loppers to allow new growth to mature that will carry next year’s display.
  • Spring flowering bulb collections are available in store and online, full of inspirational new varieties and colour mixes as well as all the traditional favourites. As gaps appear in beds and borders, early autumn is the ideal time to plant bulbs, including Alliums, Crocus, Daffodils, Narcissi and Snowdrops.
  • Give Azaleas, Rhododendrons and Camellias a good drink of water and ericaceous feed now to ensure they set plenty of buds for next spring.
  • Water new plantings, giving a thorough soak every few days. This encourages roots to grow down into the soil rather than towards the surface. Add a thick layer of Bloomin Amazing mulch to help retain moisture and feed the soil.
  • For time and water efficient watering during the summer then install a soaker or sprinkler hose which will help with hedges, trees and borders.
Gardening tips for August

Cottage Garden

  • Dead head regularly to extend the flowering season well into autumn, particularly Dahlias, and roses.
  • Any flowering herbaceous plants that have already finished flowering can be cut back and tidied, whilst some such as Hardy Geraniums will grow back with a second flush of foliage and flower for a late season display.
  • Many Roses will put on another display of fresh blooms, particularly some of our Dobbies varieties which are renowned for their fragrance and long season of flower colour. Dead head flowers that have finished and boost with rose fertiliser to encourage healthy growth and a late summer display.
  • Tie in whippy growths on rambling roses to bear next year’s trusses of flower, positioning each stem as near to horizontal as possible. Training new growth in this way helps to encourage a prolific flower display along their length.
  • Prune Wisteria cutting whippy side shoots back to around 5 leaves or they won’t flower well next year. These may require a second pruning later in the autumn.
Gardening tips for August

Kitchen Garden

  • Cut back herbs, such as Chives, Mint and Parsley, that are looking tired. This will encourage fresh new growth for a continued supply of leaves for summer dining.
  • Cut back summer raspberry canes that have fruited to the ground, tying in the new whips for next year’s crop as you go.
  • Continue to water tomato plants consistently and regularly, adding a high potash tomato feed for healthy growth and fruiting.
  • Keep picking Courgettes when they are young and tender to encourage more to follow.
  • Continue to water pumpkins well so they continue to grow in readiness for autumn festivities.
  • Make sowings of beetroot, radishes, kale, spinach, lettuce and salad crops, all fast growing for an extended season of fresh vegetables until Christmas and beyond
Gardening tips for August

Lawn

  • If you require a formal lawn then regular mowing is required if the grass is still growing. Keep the blades high in hot weather to help keep the grass green and recovered from heavy summer use.
  • If you have a wildflower meadow then most of the flowers will have finished so it’s time to cut it down but make sure all the seeds are scattered.