August is usually one of the hottest months of the year, making watering essential. Try to use grey water wherever possible, especially as water butts may be running low if it has been a dry summer.
August is traditionally holiday time, so you might need to enlist the help of friends and family to look after the garden while you are away. When you are at home, take the time to prune wisteria and summer-flowering shrubs such as lavender once they’ve finished flowering.
Top gardening jobs this month
Prune wisteria
Wisteria needs regular pruning to keep the growth and size under control, but it will also improve the flowering display. Although it seems complicated, wisteria pruning is quite easy if you follow our simple guide. https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/wisteria/pruning-guide
Summer prune trained apples and pears
Summer pruning is mainly for apples and pears trained as cordons, espaliers, fans, pyramids and stepovers. It allows sunlight to ripen the fruit and ensures good cropping next year. https://www.rhs.org.uk/fruit/apples/summer-pruning
Deadhead flowering plants regularly
Remove spent flowers once they start to look scruffy. The simplest method is to just pinch off the faded blooms, or snip back to the first leaf below the flower for a neater finish. https://www.rhs.org.uk/garden-jobs/deadheading-plants
More jobs for this month
- Water containers and new plants, preferably with grey recycled water or stored rainwater
- Collect seed from garden plants
- Harvest sweetcorn and other vegetables as they become ready
- Cut out old fruited canes on raspberries
- Lift and pot up rooted strawberry runners
- Keep ponds and water features topped up
- Improve the soil with green manures
With permissions https://www.rhs.org.uk