Gardening Jobs in August

Blimey, can you believe it’s already August? Summer may be at its height, but time flies when you’re soaking up the sunshine in the garden! While we’re enjoying the longer days and balmy evenings, the garden is still hard at work, and so should we be. It’s time to roll up those sleeves, pour yourself a refreshing drink, and get stuck into the essential gardening jobs for August. Here’s your guide to keeping the garden looking lush and thriving through the rest of the summer.

Indoor Gardening/Houseplants

  • Trim and Tidy: Keep your indoor plants looking healthy by trimming off any yellowing leaves or spent flowers. This will encourage fresh growth and keep your houseplants looking their best.
  • Pest Patrol: As the warm weather encourages indoor plant growth, it also attracts pests. Keep an eye out for signs of infestations, and act fast to treat any issues before they get out of hand.
  • Watering Routine: Continue with regular watering, but make sure not to overwater as the weather warms. Ensure good drainage and reduce watering as the days shorten towards the end of the month.
  • Feeding Time: Your houseplants are still in their active growth phase, so give them a boost with a regular feed. Use a balanced liquid fertilizer to keep them strong and vibrant.

Outdoor Gardening

  • Deadhead and Prune: Keep your summer flowers blooming for longer by deadheading regularly. Remove faded blooms from plants like roses, dahlias, and bedding plants to promote new flowers. Lightly prune shrubs and trees if needed to maintain shape.
  • Water Wisely: August can be a dry month, so keep an eye on your garden and water deeply, especially during hot spells. Focus on plants in pots, hanging baskets, and newly planted specimens that are more vulnerable to drought.
  • Mulching: If you haven’t already, add mulch to your borders to help retain moisture and suppress weeds. It will keep the soil cooler and reduce evaporation, which is key during hot summer days.
  • Weeding: Keep on top of weeds as they can quickly take over during the growing season. Removing them now prevents them from going to seed and spreading further.

Shrubs and Trees

  • Pruning: Now’s a good time to give early-summer flowering shrubs like wisteria and forsythia a light prune. Remove any dead or diseased branches and trim back any overly vigorous growth.
  • Feeding Shrubs: Feed your shrubs with a high-potash fertilizer to promote flowering. This will help them stay strong as they head towards autumn.
  • Tree Care: Check for signs of stress in your trees, particularly young ones, during dry spells. Water deeply if necessary and ensure they're staked properly to prevent wind damage.

Vegetable Patch

  • Harvest Time: August is peak harvest time! Pick courgettes, tomatoes, beans, cucumbers, and other summer vegetables regularly to keep them producing. Harvest onions and garlic once their tops have died down.
  • Sow for Winter: Start planning your winter vegetable garden by sowing hardy crops like kale, spinach, and winter lettuces. These will establish in late summer and provide fresh produce through the colder months.
  • Feed Your Veg: Give your fruiting vegetables, such as tomatoes and peppers, a boost with a tomato feed rich in potassium. This will support fruit development and maximize your crop.
  • Pest Protection: Keep an eye out for pests like slugs, caterpillars, and aphids. Use natural remedies or biological controls to protect your crops without harming beneficial insects.

Lawns

  • Mowing Routine: Keep mowing your lawn regularly, but raise the cutting height slightly to prevent stress during hot, dry spells. This will help your grass retain moisture and stay green.
  • Watering: If the weather is particularly dry, water your lawn deeply, preferably early in the morning or late in the evening to avoid evaporation.
  • Feed and Repair: Apply a summer lawn feed to keep your grass healthy. If you notice any bare patches, now is a good time to repair them by reseeding and keeping the area moist.

Ponds

  • Top Up: Water levels in ponds can drop during the heat of August, so make sure to top them up with rainwater or dechlorinated tap water to keep your aquatic plants and wildlife happy.
  • Algae Control: As water warms, algae can become an issue. Remove it regularly to prevent it from taking over and depriving your pond of oxygen.
  • Feed Fish: Continue feeding pond fish, but be mindful not to overfeed as uneaten food can pollute the water and encourage algae growth.

Patio Gardening

  • Container Care: Keep your potted plants hydrated and fed as they will dry out quickly in the heat. Consider moving pots to a shadier spot during the hottest part of the day to prevent them from becoming stressed.
  • Replanting: As some summer bedding plants start to tire, replace them with late-flowering varieties like asters, heathers, and rudbeckias to keep your patio colourful through autumn.
  • Furniture Check: While you’re out on the patio, take the time to clean and inspect your outdoor furniture. Repair any damage and give it a fresh coat of oil or paint if needed to keep it in top shape for the rest of summer.

Greenhouse Gardening

  • Ventilation: Keep your greenhouse well-ventilated during hot weather to prevent plants from overheating. Open doors and windows, and consider adding shading if temperatures rise.
  • Sow Winter Crops: Now is the time to sow crops like winter lettuce, pak choi, and hardy herbs such as parsley and coriander for autumn harvesting.
  • Tomato Care: Keep your greenhouse tomatoes well-fed and watered to encourage the ripening of fruits. Remove lower leaves to allow light and air to circulate around the plants, reducing the risk of diseases like blight.

Fruit Garden

  • Harvest Time: August is a prime time to harvest summer fruits like plums, apples, pears, and berries. Pick fruit as soon as it’s ripe to enjoy it at its best and avoid waste.
  • Prune Fruit Trees: After harvesting, give your fruit trees a light summer prune. This will help shape the trees and encourage healthy growth next season.
  • Netting: Protect ripening fruit from birds by using nets. However, remember to check regularly and release any wildlife that might get trapped.

Wildlife Care

  • Bird Baths: Keep bird baths topped up and clean, as birds need plenty of water in the heat.
  • Hedgehog Haven: Provide water for hedgehogs and other garden visitors by placing shallow dishes of water around your garden.
  • Wildlife Shelters: Avoid trimming hedges or clearing dense areas in August, as these spots are still vital for wildlife shelter and breeding.

August is a wonderful month in the garden, with plenty to harvest and still lots of colour and growth to enjoy. Keep your plants happy and hydrated, and make the most of those warm, sunny days!