Gardening Chores for August
If you are going away for any length of time this month, it can be difficult keeping on top of the jobs in the garden. If you have a very good friend or family member nearby then you may be able to ask them if they will water your plant pots a couple of times a week or mow your lawn, otherwise you will have to hope that the weather is not too extreme while you are away sunning yourself abroad!
Lawns should be cut regularly and weedkiller applied if necessary.
Shrubs. This is the time to take cuttings of flowering shrubs like hydrangea.
Hedges. Finish trimming hawthorn hedges to stop them becoming too straggly.
Roses should be given a mixture of sulphate of potash to encourage good, healthy growth.
August is the time to tidy up the perennials. Make sure you water autumn flowering ones like golden rod and michaelmas daisies. Dead head all faded flowers which are not needed for seed.
Annuals. Dead-head and water regularly.
Bulbs. Plant (or re-plant) narcissi as soon as they become available to buy.
Fruit. Continue Summer pruning of restricted forms of apples and pears. Cut down raspberries that have already produced fruit and support new canes. Plant out rooted strawberry runners.
Lilies. At the end of the month, dig up lily roots, divide and re-plant.