Jobs For August

Cut back Lavender after flowering to encourage new growth

Remove rose suckers from base of plants

Remove faded rose flowers

Take flower cuttings from fuchsias, salvias, pelargoums & vebrenas

Keep hanging baskets looking good by dead-heading, watering & feeding

Regularly water vegetables during dry spells to prevent splitting

Remove weeds

Lift marrows off the ground to prevent discolourisation

Thin out late-sown root vegetables

Pick out tops of Runner bean to encourage bushier growth

Pick beans regularly

Cut of tops of tomato plants to encourage fruits to swell & ripen

Prune restricted tree fruits

Prune back apricots, peaches and nectarines after they have fruited

Water berry fruit bushes

Support over laden fruit trees 

Prune Wisteria and shrubs after flowering

Rambling roses can also be pruned after flowering

Give hedge a final trim before winter

Dead head shrubs to encourage blooms into earl autumn

Keep Camellias, rhododendrons & other shrubs well-watered throughout this month

Take cuttings from ‘shrubby’ herbs

Shade the greenhouse to prevent plants being scorched & keep them cool

Check for Aphids & blackfly in greenhouses 

Mow lawns weekly

Use a high phosphate feed to strengthen grass roots if needed

Late in the month is a good time to apply biological controls for vine weevil to Rhododendrons, Camellias & Fuchsias

Check for aphids & blackspot

Check for powdery mildew & treat if required

Look out for potato & tomato blight

Turn garden waste into compost, add an accelerator and turn regularly

Keep up maintenance of garden sheds, fences and furniture