GARDENING GUIDE AUGUST

Care & advice for your August garden

 

The garden is in full bloom, now is the time to enjoy your garden.

Long, lazy summer days, the garden in full bloom, holidays with the kids and splashing about in paddling pools – we’re into the high point of summer, August.

Now’s the time to really enjoy your garden!

 
Late summer-flowering plants are looking fantastic now, with pollinator favourites like dahlias, rudbeckias and buddlejas at their best. In the vegetable garden, crops are ripening everywhere you look, fruit trees are ready for picking and it’s time to start thinking about winter sowings. Keep on top of the weeding and watering, and remember to keep ponds and bird baths topped up for thirsty wildlife!
Here’s a guide to what to do in the garden in August so that you’re ready for the busy autumn period.


Essential Jobs for August


Garden
Annuals

Plan ahead for next year by sowing hardy annuals, and pull up those that have finished blooming

Garden
Pests

Keep a close eye on aphids on crops, like runner beans & wipe them off before they become a problem. 

Plant
Protection

Use netting to protect soft fruit from birds.

Lawn
Care

In dry summers, mow the lawn less often and use a high blade setting to avoid stressing the grass.

Water
Garden

Stay on top of the watering, especially for pots and hanging baskets, as they dry out very quickly in hot dry weather. Water in the early morning or evening to minimise evaporation loss

Check Hedges
Before Trimming

Check hedges before trimming them, as birds may still be nesting.

SIGN UP & GET
10% OFF YOUR FIRST ORDER

Be first to hear about new arrivals, fresh stock & latest offers
+ EXCLUSIVE MONTHLY gardening & Growing guides
+ videos from our team of experts


Flower Beds & Borders


Plant
Bulbs

It’s time to start planting autumn bulbs like nerines and colchicums for a last splash of colour.
It’s also a good time to start choosing and ordering next year’s spring bulbs.

Sow
Hardy Annuals

Sow hardy annuals like Nigella, Californian poppy and Calendula directly into the soil towards the end of the month – they’re tough enough to survive winter and will flower earlier than those sown next spring.

Wildflower
Lawn

If you have a wildflower lawn, mow it this month. Leave the cut material on the ground for a few days before composting so that annual plants can drop their seeds for next year’s plants

Lavender &
Flowers

Lavender can now be trimmed back to give it a good shape, but don’t cut into the old wood.

Asters &
Gladioli

Feed late-flowering plants such as asters and gladioli to give them a boost.

 


Vegetables & Fruits


Harvest
Vegetables

Keep harvesting beans, carrots, courgettes, potatoes, onions and fruit.


Sweet Corn
Harvest

Check sweetcorn for ripeness by piercing a kernel with your thumbnail. If it produces a milky liquid, the cobs are ready to harvest. Only pick as you need them – they taste best eaten straight away!

Feed
Tomatoes

Feed tomatoes fortnightly. Pinch out Cordon varieties side shoots.
Try 'Marshalls Liquid Tomato Feed' for juicier and tastier tomatoes.

Cabbage
Care

Watch out for cabbage white butterfly – check the leaves of brassicas like cabbage and kale and remove any eggs and caterpillars.

Kale &
Winter Cabbage

Plant out kale and winter cabbage seedlings, and sow chard and winter-hardy spring onions.



Gardening Advice


Growing Guides

Giving you the confidence & enjoyment to grow in the garden, plot, greenhouse or planters

Special Offers

Limited time quality offers, grab your season ready plants, bulbs, seeds, composts, tools & garden care


Recommended Products