August is a month where your garden should be being well used. There is plenty of time for school holiday fun with paddling pools. Plan some summer drinks parties and serve up some fresh produce on your plates when you are dining al fresco.

Watering

Watering is a priority on days when no rain is forecast. Fruit and veg plants are notoriously thirsty but if you can spare some time and water on your flowers, they will benefit too. Lawns never look their best when it’s been continuously dry. If you can get the kids playing in the sprinkler, you will be keeping the children cool, and the grass green. Don’t worry too much though, lawns tend to green up very quickly when they do get rain. Don’t forget to top up water sources for birds as well, these tend to be shallow and evaporate quickly but do keep them topped up and fill up ponds and water features too. Try and use grey water as much as possible as your water butts may be running low.

In your fruit and vegetable garden keep an eye on you veg and harvest before they grow too big, remember to clear any dead leaves as you go.

Pruning wisteria and lavender and other summer flowering shrubs after they have flowered is one of the big August jobs. Blooms only appear on new wood with wisteria so pruning is the key to a good flowering . In summer after flowering take back the whippy green shoots to five or six leaves to encourage the short, flowering spurs.

You can still plant late vegetables in August, carrots, cauliflower, broccoli are a few examples and we will be growing lettuce all year round for winter salads. Winter flowering pansies, violas can be planted now for colour over the winter.

Keep on deadheading to promote growth particularly on your roses.

Tips to keep your garden watered if you go away during a hot period

• Timed drip irrigations systems are great but obviously need setting up
• Use plastic bottles with screw off lids, either place the bottle directly into the soil, or pierce the lid with a few holes or screw a spike or ceramic cone into the bottle
• Place particularly thirsty plants in a plant tray filled with water or a kid’s sand tray filled with water
• Move potted plants away from direct sunlight
• Mulch areas around plants to help retain water
• If you’re asking a neighbour to water then make sure you offer to return the favour and always bring back a present

Words: Jude Eastick, Company Director & Head Gardener