Gardening Jobs for August
As the height of summer unfolds, August presents a crucial time for gardeners. With the potential for scorching heat and unexpected showers, this month requires a thoughtful approach to maintaining a thriving garden. Let's explore the essential tasks to keep your outdoor space flourishing throughout August and set the stage for a bountiful autumn.
Nurturing Your Lawn
A lush, green lawn is the pride of many gardens. In August, your lawn care routine should adapt to the summer conditions:
Mowing Mastery
Regular mowing is crucial, but be mindful of the height. Set your mower blades to cut at about 5-7cm. This slightly longer length helps protect grass roots from the intense summer sun and reduces water loss. Aim to mow once a week, adjusting frequency based on growth rate and weather conditions.
Watering Wisdom
When it comes to watering your lawn in August, less frequent but deeper watering is the key. This encourages roots to grow deeper, making your lawn more drought-resistant. Water early in the morning or late in the evening to minimise evaporation. A good rule of thumb is to provide about 2.5cm of water per week, including rainfall.
Fertilising for Future Growth
August is an ideal time to apply a slow-release fertiliser to your lawn. Look for products high in potassium and low in nitrogen to promote root growth and increase drought tolerance. Always follow the manufacturer's instructions for application rates and water thoroughly after fertilising.
Flourishing Flower Beds and Borders
Your flowering plants need extra attention in August to maintain their vibrant display:
Deadheading for Continuous Blooms
Regular deadheading is crucial this month. Remove dead flowers from plants like roses, dahlias, and cosmos to encourage new blooms and maintain a tidy appearance. This simple task can significantly extend your garden's flowering period. Use a pair of good-quality secateurs or pointed pruners. If you want more information on rose care and pruning, see our Guide to Rose Pruning.
Weed Management and Mulching
Stay vigilant with weeding, as August's warmth can lead to rapid weed growth. After weeding, replenish your mulch layer to about 5-7cm deep. This helps retain soil moisture, suppress weed growth, and regulate soil temperature.
Watering Techniques for Flower Beds
Water deeply but less frequently to encourage deep root growth. Pay special attention to plants like Camellias and Rhododendrons, which are setting buds for next year's blooms. Consider using a soaker hose for efficient watering.
Vegetable and Fruit Garden Care
August is a month of both harvesting and planning for the future in your edible garden:
Harvesting Your Bounty
Regularly harvest ripe vegetables and fruits to encourage continued production. Tomatoes, cucumbers, and courgettes should be picked frequently. For fruit trees, gather fallen fruit promptly to prevent pest infestations.
Late Summer Planting
There's still time to sow quick-growing crops like lettuce, radishes, and spinach for a late harvest. Consider planting autumn and winter vegetables like kale, Brussels sprouts, and winter cabbage.
Watering
Consistent moisture is crucial for developing fruits and vegetables. Water deeply at the base of plants, preferably in the morning. Irregular watering can lead to issues like blossom end rot in tomatoes or split fruits.
General Garden Maintenance
Keep your garden in top shape with these general maintenance tasks:
Pruning and Shaping
August is an excellent time to prune many shrubs that have finished flowering. Trim lavender after it has flowered to maintain its shape. For hedges, a light trim now will keep them tidy until the main pruning season. When trimming hedges, you will need a safe, sturdy ladder designed for the job, this is where the Henchman Fully Adjustable Tripod Ladder comes in. The 3 adjustable legs mean you can keep your ladder level even on uneven ground. The top platform step provides a comfortable place to stand when working and the guardrail means you can work hands-free whilst maintaining three points of contact with the ladder at all times.
Pest and Disease Vigilance
Regularly inspect your plants for signs of pests or diseases. Look out for aphids, caterpillars, and fungal diseases like powdery mildew. Early detection and treatment are key to preventing widespread issues.
Supporting Tall Plants
Ensure tall plants and climbers are well-supported to prevent wind damage. Check existing supports and add stakes or ties as needed, especially for heavy-fruiting plants like tomatoes and runner beans.
Water Conservation Strategies
With potential drought conditions in August, water conservation becomes crucial:
Efficient Watering Methods
Consider installing a rainwater collection system to make the most of any summer showers. Use water butts connected to downpipes to collect rainwater from your roof. This stored water is perfect for garden use and can significantly reduce your reliance on mains water.
Drought-Resistant Planting
Think ahead by incorporating drought-resistant plants into your garden design. Plants like lavender, rosemary, and sedum are well-adapted to drier conditions and can thrive with minimal watering once established.
Encouraging Wildlife
August still sees a flurry of activity for our local wildlife, birds singing, insects buzzing and small mammals scurrying through in the night. There are some things you can do in your garden to encourage your wildlife neighbours to visit.
Tasty Treats
Leaving seedheads on plants such as teasels and lavender will provide food for birds and small mammals.
Stop deadheading roses so they can form into rose hips, this will provide birds with food during the winter months.
Check your hedges
Birds such as blackbirds and thrushes continue nesting until late August, so check your hedges before trimming so you can make sure this season’s fledglings have flown the nest.
Help a declining species
Our wonderful spiky garden friend, the hedgehog, has been in declining numbers since the 1950s but in a recent survey, 33% of people had seen a hedgehog in their gardens in 2023 which is up 2% from the previous year.
There are some things you can do to help your local hedgehogs, like leaving dishes of water or meat-based dog or cat food (ideally chicken-flavoured). This will help them build up fat reserves ready for hibernation in the winter.
Enjoying the last bit of sunshine
August is a month of both enjoyment and preparation in the garden. By focusing on these key tasks, you'll ensure your garden remains vibrant through the late summer and is well-prepared for the autumn months ahead. Remember, gardening is as much about the journey as it is about the results, so take time to enjoy your outdoor space amidst your gardening duties.
If you're new to gardening and looking for the right tools to start with, check out our 10 essential garden tools list and tool maintenance guide so you can properly care for them. See all our other monthly gardening guides.
