Summer gardening: what to do in August
Now that sunshine and blue skies have finally decided to make a late appearance, you are sure to find yourself out and about in your garden a lot more during August.
Thanks to the recent deluge of rain and the relatively mild weather, your garden will probably resemble a jungle by now, so we’ve put together our best tips for August to help get your garden back in top condition.
Collect seeds for next year
Get a jump on planting and start collecting the seeds from your favourite plants and flowers now. A number of species will start dropping their seeds now ready for propagation so just nip in before the birds and garden critters and stock up now. Seeds can be stored in dry containers, just remember to dry them out first in the sun or an airing cupboard.
Prune fruit bushes
With the mild yet wet weather, your fruit bushes may have started spiralling out of control. If you want the fruit to have a chance at growing properly, trim back the bushes and give it more space to flourish.
Spread compost and clean out the bin
Remember to keep composting your garden, paying particular attention to allotments and flower beds. Younger plants will need regular feeding and remember to replace the compost in areas that may have been washed out by the rain. Try to whittle down any excess compost in the bin so you can start fresh for next year.
Continue to deadhead regularly
The secret to healthier plants and flowers is to make sure they use every ounce of food and energy properly. This means removing deadheads on a regular basis so they don’t use up precious nutrients. It will also keep you garden looking more colourful and luscious.
Remove diseased foliage so it doesn’t go back into the soil
Dead leaves decompose into the soil, and diseased leaves take their bacteria with them. Make sure you clear up any leaves and petals from diseased plants and flowers as quickly as possible so they don’t go back into the ground.
Plant spring garlic for an early crop
You can plant your garlic early next year along with your other spring veggies if you like, but for an early crop try planting now instead. Garlic is an extremely hardly plant and will survive even during a harsh winter.
