August Gardening Jobs

August is a month to enjoy your garden. With glorious colours, an abundance of fruit and vegetables, and hopefully plenty of sunshine, there’s no better place to spend your free time. However, there are always tasks to be carried out in the garden. By following this month’s tips, your garden will continue to flourish and bloom!

Keep reading to find out our top gardening jobs for August.

Keep all container plants and hanging baskets well-watered and fed with a liquid fertiliser once a week.
Give evergreen hedges a final trim. Later pruning can result in frost damage. Pruning mid-Summer blooming shrubs this month will result in better displays next year. Hand held pruners are the best way to make sure you have full control of the cut. To encourage height, make sure to prune the sides and let the top grow freely.
Deadhead bedding and perennial plants to encourage further flowering. All faded perennials can be cut back. Use a high quality, sharp pruner to make sure you get a strong cut.

From August onwards is the perfect time to start planting Spring flowering bulbs.

Our Top Tips for Planting Bulbs

Start your bulbs off in a pot. This gives them extra warmth before going into the ground. Choose a well drained site outdoors. This ensures no root rot develops. Gently firm in the soil or compost over the bulb. Plant by placing the pointy end of the bulb facing up and the roots down. Water accordinly, clear weed and add fertiliser for extra nutrients.

Now is an ideal time to apply a selective lawn weed killer to control broad leaved weeds and clover. Choose a weedkiller which controls weeds without harming the surrounding grass. Make sure to apply weed control during dry days.

Re-seed bald or bare patches in the lawn after weeds have died down by using lawn repair seed. Check out our full guide on how to sow grass and take care of your lawn here.
Prune out old wood in blackcurrants and remove fruited canes in Summer raspberries.

Remember: August is a month with plenty of produce to be harvested, and for enjoying the vibrant colours, but remember, there’s always something to be done. So get out there early and complete your August gardening jobs quickly, so you can enjoy your outdoor space for longer!