AUGUST

GENERAL MAINTENANCE:

Continue to weed. Keep up with the dead heading. Even though it may not encourage more flowers now, it does help to keep the garden tidy. Continue to water and feed your containers.

With Autumn setting in, start clearing debris to prevent pests and diseases overwintering.

Perfect time to start a composting bin.

If your summer bedding is looking past it’s best start removing these and making way from autumn bedding and bulbs.

Good time to move shrubs and get them settled into their new location. Whilst the weather is still warm they will establish new roots into the ground before winter.

Any perennial that are starting to look tatty can be cut down to make the borders look tidy. Perennial can also be divided and sections replanted. This must be done with perennial that have become bare in the middle.

WATERING:

Dependent of what area of the country you are in autumn rains may have started. However if you are experiencing an Indian summer then do remember to water your plants, especially your containers.

PESTS & DISEASES:

Continue with vine weevil treatments. As the temperatures are still warm the grubs will still be hatching.

LAWNS:

Mow less frequently as grass growth will be slowing down. Start removing thatch from lawns using a scarifier. It is important to do this for the health of the lawn to prevent surface drainage problems, moss and weed growth. Follow scarification with aeration. All plants including grass need air. Work in a mix of loam and sand topdressing with a stiff brush. This will help to keep the aeration holes open. If your lawn is worn, mix in some grass seed into the top dressing.

Feed lawns with a high phosphate fertilizer if not done last month. This will help strengthen roots before winter. Do not apply a high nitrogen fertilizer as this puts on growth that will not withstand the winter weather conditions.

Lawn weed killers are most effective in cool damp autumn weather but make sure the weed killer is specifically for lawns.

Early autumn is the best time to start laying turf or seeding lawns. Worn patches of lawn can also be seeded.

PRUNING:

Prune back bamboos taking out the weak stems

When the flowers have faded on climbing roses, they can be pruned. If they are still going strong pruning can be delayed until next month. It is best to remove any dead or diseased stems. Start tying in basal shoots. If there are not many basal shoots start pruning the side shoots on the existing framework, down to 2 or 3 buds. Remove old stems down to ground level.

If you have not given your hedges one last trim before winter, there is still time to get it done.

BULBS:

Plant Spring bulbs and corms such as daffodils, hyacinths, anemones, scilla, crocus, alliums and camassia.

To create good visual impact, plant bulbs in groups or drifts using 25 or 50 bulbs.

As a rough guide for the planting depth, measure the your bulb from top to bottom and dig a hole double to triple its size. Put the bulb into your hole with the growing tip (nose) facing upwards and then back fill with soil. Firm down gently but do not stand on the soil as this can damage the bulbs.

Bulbs for spring containers can also be planted from September through to October.

Do not plant your tulips until October. Bulbs such as aconites, bluebells and snowdrops are best planted in the green. This means you buy them with their leaves on but when the flowers have faded.

PLANTING:
Garden nurseries will have a good selection of herbaceous perennials. It is a good time of the year to start planting perennials. The soil is moist and warm allowing them to get established before winter sets in. Try not to buy pot bounds plants. When planting, soak the plants thoroughly but putting the pot in a bucket of water. Also water well after planting.