This month is all about maintaining your garden during the height of summer.
- Water containers, hanging baskets and newly planted shrubs regularly, especially during hot spells.
- Deadhead roses, dahlias and summer bedding plants to encourage continuous flowering.
- Harvest tomatoes, courgettes, beans and other vegetables little and often.
- Trim lavender once flowering has finished to keep plants compact.
- Feed flowering plants with a high-potash fertiliser such as a Sulphate of Potash Fruit & Flower Booster from Westland, for a final burst of colour.
Hydrangeas are at their spectacular best throughout August, providing large, vibrant blooms that brighten borders and containers alike. They thrive in partial shade, where they are protected from the hottest afternoon sun and benefit from regular watering to keep the soil consistently moist. In return, they reward you with beautiful flowers that can be enjoyed fresh or dried for indoor arrangements.
Enjoy Summer Colour
If your borders are looking tired, it’s not too late to refresh them with late-summer favourites such as salvias, echinacea, rudbeckia and asters. These long-flowering plants will keep your garden looking beautiful well into autumn, while attracting bees and butterflies.
Wildlife Watch
August is a busy month for pollinators such as bees, butterflies and hoverflies. Keep bird baths topped up with fresh water and leave a few seed heads for birds and beneficial insects, including ladybirds, lacewings and beetles, which help maintain a healthy garden ecosystem. Every small action helps support local wildlife.
Looking Ahead
Now is the perfect time to start thinking about autumn. Spring-flowering bulbs will soon be arriving, making it easy to plan colourful displays for next year. If summer has left your soil hard and compacted, improve its structure by incorporating a quality compost such as Westland ‘The Gardener’s Multi-Purpose Compost’, before autumn planting. It’s also a great time to prepare beds and borders ready for cooler weather.
