August 2024
Get ahead gardening jobs for August
August is a great month to get ahead with plenty of gardening jobs in addition to the essentials - watering, feeding & deadheading.
It’s also a good opportunity to enlist any little helpers on school holidays!
Here’s a few ideas to get you started:
August Pruning
Climbing hydrangeas (hydrangea petiolaris) are best pruned once the blooms have finished if you need to keep size and spread in check.
Summer prune trained apple & pear trees to promote good fruiting in the future.
This years whippy wisteria growth should be reduced to 5 or 6 leaves.
Prune lavenders to avoid shapeless, woody plants. NEVER cut back lavender into old wood as it will not grow back. Always ensure there’s green growth below your cut.
Climbing & rambling roses should be pruned once flowering has finished (unless repeat flowering varieties).
Areas of meadow planting can be mown/strimmed now that the plants have scattered their seed.
Hedges should be given a light trim now that the main nesting season is over. This will keep hedges looking tidy throughout the winter, but ensure that any cuts are made well before the risk of frosts.
Bountiful Harvests
Remove lower tomato leaves and pinch out plant tops & side shoots to encourage ripe fruits and improve ventilation. Feed regularly with a high potash fertiliser.
Remove leaves around bunches on grapevines to maximise sunlight to fruits.
Pinch out tips of climbing and runner beans when they reach the top of supports, to focus energy on producing a good crop.
Pinch out cucumber plant side shoots to just two leaves beyond any developing fruits.
Net any developing blackberries or autumn raspberries to deter feathered friends.
Forward Planning
Feed & water spring flowering shrubs such as rhododendrons, camellias & forsythia in the event of a very dry late summer. These shrubs will be in the early stages of forming next years flower buds.
Lift and pot up any rooted strawberry runners.
Plant up autumn bulbs such as nerines and colchicums.
Take soft wood cuttings to ensure that you’re not without your favourites next year.
Start to consider which spring flowering bulbs you’d like to grow or add to next year.