Gardening Tips > August > ‘How to’? Get Outdoors in August

‘How to’? Get Outdoors in August

Top ten jobs in the garden this month (source: RHS)

  1. Prune Wisteria
  2. Don’t delay summer pruning restricted fruits
  3. Deadhead flowering plants regularly
  4. Watering! Particularly containers, and new plants – preferably with grey recycled water or stored rainwater
  5. Collect seed from favourite plants
  6. Harvest sweetcorn and other vegetables as they become ready
  7. Continue cutting out old fruited canes on raspberries
  8. Lift and pot up rooted strawberry runners
  9. Keep ponds and water features topped up
  10. Feed the soil with green manures

At the end of August and during September Autumn bedding plants will become available but you can prolong your summer bedding displays by deadheading, feeding (use a tomato or multi purpose feed) and with regular watering.

In addition you can prune deciduous hedges as the birds have now stopped nesting. Lay a plastic sheet or tarpauline on the ground underneath for easy tidying up afterwards.

You can also sow hardy annuals and wildflowers directly into borders this month. They will overwinter and flower next year.

Spring flowering bulbs are in-store – you can plant Colchicums, Daffodils and Madonna Lillies now and the rest can be planted during September and October.

Those of you with excess herbs in the garden might like to look at our guide to making herb ice cubes, which you can use in your cooking all winter.

Facebook Instagram