It can be one of the hottest months of the year. Therefore we need to be diligent about watering our gardens and plants.
It is helpful to use grey water ( clean waste water from baths, sinks, washing machines, and other kitchen appliances) wherever possible and especially if water butts are running low due to the dry weather.
Many people go on holiday in August and can forget about the garden until we return home, only to find that a lot of plants have wilted or died. Do ask friends or family to look after the garden while you are away.
If you are not away this month, take some time to prune summer-flowering shrubs.
August Jobs to Do:
- Watering! Particularly containers, and new plants, preferably with grey recycled water or stored rainwater
- Prune Wisteria
- Don’t delay summer pruning fruits trained as restricted forms
- Deadhead flowering plants regularly
- Collect seed from garden plants
- Harvest sweetcorn and other vegetables as they become ready
- Continue cutting out old fruited canes on raspberries
- Lift and pot up rooted strawberry runners
- Keep ponds and water features topped up
- Feed the soil with green manures
