What
to do in the garden in August
·
Towards the end of August sow hardy
annuals directly into borders. They will overwinter and flower next summer
(Just remember where you’ve planted them to not get them mixed up with weeds)
·
Cut
back the foliage and stems of herbaceous plants that have already died back
·
Don’t neglect hanging baskets -
deadheading, watering and feeding will help them last through until autumn
·
Dead-head plants such as Dahlia, roses and
Penstemon and bedding plants to stop them self-seeding and to prolong the
display into early autumn
·
Don’t cut off the flowers of ornamental
grasses as these will provide winter interest
·
Hardy geraniums can be cut back a little
to remove tired leaves and encourage a new flush of growth
·
Prune climbing and rambling roses that do
not repeat flower or produce attractive hips, once the flowers have finished
·
Prune Wisteria and shrubs such as
Pyracantha after flowering
·
Lightly prune Hebes and lavenders after
flowering
·
Give hedges a final trim. They will only
grow a little before the cold weather kicks in
·
Keep early-flowering shrubs such as
Camellia and Rhododendron well watered during dry periods to ensure good flower
bud initiation
·
Keep patio containers plants well watered
·
Stake tall or top heavy Dahlias and Lilies
to prevent wind and rain damage
·
Dead-head Lilies for a better flower
display next year
·
Cut back herbs now to encourage a new
flush to harvest before the frost
·
Collect ripened seed and store for next
year. Leave some in place as they can be aesthetically pleasing to see
·
Mow wildflower meadows to help scatter the
seeds
·
Take cuttings of your favourite tender
perennials such as Pelargoniums and Fuchsia to propagate them for next year
·
Finish dividing clumps of Bearded Iris so
they have time to form roots and flower buds for next year before the cold
weather arrives
Information provided by www.thompson-morgan.com and www.rhs.org.uk
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