August’s Gardening Jobs

Oh sunshine, is that you?! It’s quite unbelievable just how different the last few weeks’ weather has been in comparison to this time last year. The days on end of 40 degree heat and clear skies… I’m not sure I can say I remember it fondly but a few sunny days wouldn’t go amiss this summer. All this rain has brought about so much lush growth in the garden which is very much appreciated. The bumblebees are enjoying the flowers and I’m loving the rate that the pumpkins are growing at. If you can manage to pause the Dawsons Creek reruns and get out into the garden in between showers, here are some jobs for this month…

Keep Camellias and Rhododendrons well watered

It seems unnecessary to mention watering at this point but who knows what the rest of August will bring so it’s worth while to make note. Next years flower buds are developing over the coming period so it’s best to make sure any plants in pots are well watered to ensure plenty of flowers in 2024.

Keep deadheading

Ensure you don’t cut your flowering season short by continuing to deadhead annuals, repeat flowering perennials and roses.

Plant our biennials

If you’ve sown biennial seeds such as foxgloves and honesty, once they seedlings are looking sturdy enough with a good root system, start planting them into their final positions.

Cut and hang flowers for drying

Dried flowers have come back in recent years in a big way, with new styles of dried flower wreaths and arrangements featured all over Instagram and Pinterest. If you’re as into it as I am, it’s a good time to start looking out in your garden for the right stems to cut for drying. Echinops, achillea, gypsophilia and lavender are just a few examples of flowers that are good for drying. Cut some flowering stems, trim the lower foliage and hang them upside down in a dry and airy space indoors.

Tidy up pumpkins and squashes

Trim the ends of long stems on plants to stop them taking over. If you’re looking for size in your pumpkins, reduce the amount of fruit on your plants to one or two per plant.

Make holiday cover plans

If you’re heading off on holiday, make sure someone is available to water where necessary (mainly pots). After having a fantastic holiday, you don’t want to come home to the disappointment of some sad and crispy plants. Make it as easy as possible for your holiday cover by grouping your pots together to ensure none are forgotten about.

I hope you have a lovely August and I do accept pumpkin pics in my DMs, just sayin.