Get busy in the garden this August
August, while still capable of delivering chilly days, is a pivotal
month for gardeners as this period marks the beginning of the rewards from your winter and spring efforts. As the month progresses, your garden’s display will only get better.
Granny Mouse Country House & Spa, known for its beautiful garden
setting, leaves many guests upon their departure feeling inspired to
begin transforming their own gardens. General Manager Sean Granger comments that, “we could write several chapters of tips, tasks and recommendations for your garden as we transition from winter to spring, and we have!”
Windy August Precautions
Ensure all standard plants and young trees are securely staked,
checking ties regularly to avoid tightness. Continue feeding winter
and spring flowering annuals and remove spent blooms to encourage new flowers. In warm regions, you can start sowing summer seeds in trays, grouping seedlings according to their watering needs and using mulch to save on water.
Bulb Care
Check bulbs, especially clivias, agapanthus, and amaryllis, for lily
borer signs, like tiny egg clusters under leaves. Use Margaret
Robert’s biological caterpillar insecticide or a suitable eco-friendly
option. If lifting and storing winter and spring bulbs for next
season, feed them with high-potassium fertilizer every two weeks until leaves die naturally. Store healthy, plump bulbs in a cool, dry place.
Summer Bulbs and Dahlia Care
Summer bulbs arrive in stores in August. Buy early to avoid
disappointment and store them cool until planting in September. Moles love bulbs, especially amaryllis, so use special pots or chicken mesh baskets to protect them. For stored dahlia bulbs, dust with sulphur to prevent fungal infections and cover loosely with soil. Divide and transplant established canna tubers into refreshed beds with compost and bone meal or 2:3:2.
Weed Control and Lawn Preparation
Weeds appear as the weather warms. Weed them out before they set seed and use mulch to conserve water and smother weeds. Gradually increase watering and fertilize shrubs and trees with general-purpose fertilizer like 2:3:2 by the end of August. For lawns, warm regions can start preparation in August, but colder areas should wait until September. Mow runner lawns like Kikuyu short, scarify, and spike the area. Top-dress with agricultural lime and organic fertilizer to improve nutrient uptake and suppress weeds.
Pruning and Rose Care
Pruning for roses, deciduous fruit trees, and grapevines should be
completed by mid-August in cold regions. Unpruned roses may shoot due to warm weather, but these can be pruned off later. Water roses deeply weekly, increasing frequency towards the end of August. Mulch roots with compost and feed with high-nitrogen fertilizer. For pest control, use organic insecticide on new leaves.
Pruning Evergreen Shrubs and Fuchsias
Prune frost-bitten evergreen shrubs in August. Remove green branches from variegated shrubs to maintain variegation. Prune fuchsias by a third and mulch with compost. Pinch out growing tips for bushier plants and feed with nitrogen-rich fertilizer.
Hydrangea Care
For dark blue hydrangeas, sprinkle aluminium sulphate around roots or spray diluted aluminium sulphate on leaves every two weeks until January.
Dividing Perennials and Treating Conifers
Divide and replant overcrowded groundcovers and perennials like
agapanthus and daylily. Prune ornamental grasses if untidy. Treat
conifers for aphids with insecticide granules until the first rains.
Vegetable Garden Preparation
Continue harvesting winter vegetables. Feed broccoli with
high-nitrogen fertilizer to encourage secondary shoots. In frost-free
regions, sow green beans, pumpkin, squash, cucumbers, melons, and maize. Prepare beds by adding compost and organic fertilizers.
Maintain soil moisture and monitor pH levels, adjusting with
agricultural lime if needed.
Herb Garden and Fruit Trees
Prepare a small herb garden for summer. Lift and divide overcrowded herbs, pruning before replanting in composted soil. Mulch fruit trees with compost and feed with granular organic fertilizer. Water deeply and spray with organic fungicide if needed. Feed citrus trees with organic fertilizer and iron chelate, followed by Epsom salts. Treat new growth for citrus psylla if necessary.
August is a busy month for gardeners, requiring attention to staking, feeding, pruning, and preparing for summer. By following these tips from Granny Mouse Country House & Spa, you can ensure your garden thrives as the season transitions from winter to spring. Enjoy the beauty and rewards of your efforts as your garden bursts into bloom.