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  1. Home
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  4. August

Your Monthly Planting Guide

August

It’s ALMOST spring…

This month there’s a sense that winter is almost over. Flower and growth buds on deciduous trees and shrubs, roses and fruit trees start to swell and show tinges of colour, the early daffodils and jonquils burst into flower and camellias and magnolias are at their peak of flowering.

 

    Calendar

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    Gardening in August

    • Vegetables
    • Fruit & Citrus
    • Flowers & Bulbs
    • Indoor Plants
    • Lawn Care
    • Plants, Trees & Shrubs
    How to grow chillies

    Chilli

    It seems that most people now have at least 1 or 2 Chilli plants at home – it’s become incredibly trendy. Find out how...

    Read more
    How to grow potatoes

    Potatoes

    Potatoes (Solanum tuberosum) are tubers that grow and form at the plant’s roots. Plants also produce flowering shoots...

    Read more
    Cucumbers

    Cucumbers

    Delicious in salads and sandwiches, the crisp, sweet crunch of a cucumber is one of the joys of summer. Growing...

    Read more
    how to grow spring onions

    Spring Onion

    Spring onions (also known as green shallots and green bunching or salad onions) are a delicious addition to a whole...

    Read more
    How to grow tomatoes

    Tomatoes

    Nothing beats the taste of your own home-grown tomatoes, freshly picked and warm from the Summer sun. Slice them into a...

    Read more
    how to grow peas

    Peas

    Nothing beats home-grown peas for their tenderness and taste. That's because when they are picked, their sugars start to...

    Read more
    How to grow onions

    Onions

    The basis of so many delicious dishes, onions (Allium cepa) are an essential ingredient in every cook’s store cupboard...

    Read more
    How to grow garlic

    Garlic

    Growing Garlic (Allium sativum) at home is now very popular. It's an easy vegetable to grow - just plant a Garlic clove...

    Read more
    how to grow courgettes

    Zucchini

    Zucchini are now a common, summer staple in the vegetable garden. They are relatively easy to grow and they can be eaten...

    Read more
    Caring for Runner Beans

    Runner beans

    Runner beans, or more correctly scarlet runner beans, (Phaseolus coccineus) are among the easiest and most rewarding...

    Read more
    growing salad leaves

    Salad leaves

    Bags of salad leaves are quite expensive to buy and have a fairly short lifespan in the fridge. Grow your own and you...

    Read more
    How to grow pumpkins

    Pumpkins

    Delicious in pies, soups and stews and full of vitamins and minerals, pumpkins are a tasty autumn and winter treat...

    Read more
    growing sweetcorn

    Sweet Corn

    Sweet Corn, or maize, won't really grow as high as an elephant's eye, but it will be sweet, tender and delicious -...

    Read more
    How to grow & care for asparagus

    Asparagus

    Asparagus is a classic spring vegetable worth establishing in your garden. You’ll need to wait 2 years from planting...

    Read more
    How to grow & care for cauliflower

    Cauliflower

    Drizzled with olive oil and baked whole or sliced into steaks, cut into individual florets and wok-tossed in a stir fry...

    Read more
    How to grow & care for broccoli

    Broccoli

    Broccoli is a must have in every home veggie patch - it’s productive, nutritious and very easy to grow. Although it’s...

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    How to grow & care for rhubarb

    Rhubarb

    Rhubarbs edible stalks grow from a central crown and this popular vegetable is most commonly eaten as a sweet! Once...

    Read more
    How to grow blueberries

    Blueberries

    Eaten fresh, baked in muffins or as the star attraction in jams or desserts, blueberries (Vaccinium corymbosum) are...

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    how to grow strawberries

    Strawberries

    Who doesn’t love strawberries? If you’re a strawberry fan, the many varieties of Fragaria × ananassa are easy to grow at...

    Read more
    How to grow raspberries

    Raspberries

    What could be better than a bowl of sweet, fresh-picked raspberries in summer? These delicious fruits are easy to grow...

    Read more
    How to grow & care for cherry trees

    Cherries

    Homegrown cherries are sweet, juicy and delicious. Many varieties will be dripping with ready to pick cherries around...

    Read more
    Growing orchids

    Orchids

    Orchids are a great addition to any home, with their exotic, delicate and diverse flowers and their beautiful shapes and...

    Read more
    How to grow sunflowers

    Sunflowers

    If you want to grow something spectacular, plant sunflowers. They come in a whole range of sizes from dwarf to giant and...

    Read more
    How to grow Allium

    Allium

    Alliums belong to the same family as onions, garlic and leeks, as you can tell from the aroma when you crush the foliage...

    Read more
    How to grow roses

    Roses

    Roses are among our favourite garden plants – and deservedly so. They are versatile, produce vibrant colour through...

    Read more
    how to grow sweet peas

    Sweet peas

    The sweet pea (Lathyrus odoratus) is an incredibly popular flowering climbing plant that produces masses of flowers from...

    Read more
    How to Grow Fiddle Leaf Figs

    Fiddle Leaf Figs

    With their lush, upright stature and huge, glossy leaves, the Fiddle Leaf Fig (Ficus lyrata) is one of the most popular...

    Read more
    Peace Lily

    Peace Lily

    With their dark green foliage and pure white flowers, Peace Lilies are a stunning addition indoors. Being just as...

    Read more
    How to grow Monstera

    Monstera

    Monstera are one of the most recognisable and beloved indoor plants to grow and care for. Several species of Monstera...

    Read more
    Philodendron Plant

    Philodendron

    There’s a reason why Philodendrons make such great indoor plants… well several actually! They look good, aren’t fussy...

    Read more
    How To Grow & Care For Buffalo Lawn

    Buffalo Grass

    A popular stalwart in Australian gardens for good reason, buffalo grass makes for an incredibly resilient lawn. It is...

    Read more
    How To Grow & Care For Kikuyu Lawn

    Kikuyu Grass

    Kikuya grass, or Pennisetum Clandestinum, is a vigorous plant often used in Australian lawns and common in public...

    Read more

    Vegetables

    What to harvest now:

    Winter veggies, including cabbage, kale, cauliflower, brussels sprouts, broccoli, silver beet and leafy greens like lettuce, should still be going strong. The very first of the new season’s asparagus tips may pop up later in the month – keep an eye out and cut them when about 15cm tall – they will be tender and delicious!

    Asparagus tips popping out of the ground
     
    What to plant now:

    Continue planting certified virus-free strawberry plants and runners. Rhubarb and asparagus crowns may still be available and should be planted as soon as possible.

    In cooler areas, later in the month, sow seeds of: 
    • Broad bean
    • Carrot
    • Celery
    • French bean
    • Lettuce
    • Onion
    • Parsnip
    • Dwarf pea
    • Climbing pea
    • Silver beet 
    In temperate to warm areas plant seedlings of:
    •  Beetroot
    • Carrot
    • Chinese cabbage
    • Kohl rabi
    • Potato tuber

    Tray of vegetables about to be planted.
     
    Veggie patch tips for August:
    • Give newly planted seedlings a good start with regular applications of a liquid fertiliser for vegetables and herbs such as Osmocote Boost+Feed Vegetables, Tomatoes & Herbs or a certified organic fertiliser once a month.
    • Water every few days if the weather is dry.
    • Hand pull or hoe out weeds as they appear – they compete for nutrients and moisture and may also harbour pests that could attack your crops.
    • As winter crops finish, pull out the plants and put them into the compost bin if they are disease-free.
    • Start preparing empty beds now for planting out seedlings next month. Dig over to break up the soil, fork in plenty of compost and a complete fertiliser.

    Fruit

    What fruits to harvest now:

    In late winter, it’s only the warmer parts of the country that will have any ripe fruit to harvest, and most of it will be citrus – mandarins, tangelos, grapefruit and lemons.

    Bowl of mandarins, tangelos, grapefruit and lemons.
     
    What fruit to plant:

    Evergreen fruiting plants such as passionfruit vines and citrus may still be planted in warm to tropical areas. Bare-rooted deciduous fruit and nut trees and vines should be planted as soon as possible before they start to shoot and flower. Some garden centres may already have them potted up and in flower.

    Choose from: 

    • Fig 
    • Apple
    • Pear
    • Cherry
    • Plum
    • Apricot
    • Plumcot
    • Nectarine
    • Peach
    • Persimmon
    • Almond
    • Walnut
    • Mulberry
    • Pomegranate
    • Quince
    • Raspberry
    • Blackberry

    Pink and white flowers growing on a tree.
     

      Flowers

      What flowers to plant:

      Bare-root roses are still available and, like fruit trees, should be in the ground very soon! Some nurseries sell them already potted up – they can be planted now or left until they are fully in leaf before transplanting into the garden. Spring flowering annuals will in full bloom now, but it’s not too early to start thinking about summer flowers.        

      In cool areas, sow seeds into seed trays of:
      • Amaranthus
      • Bedding begonia
      • Candytuft
      • Carnation
      • Celosia
      • Eschscholtzia
      • Geum
      • Hollyhock
      • Linaria
      • Lupin
      • Nasturtium
      • Petunia
      • Scabiosa
      • Sweet William
      • Verbena
      • Wallflower
      In warmer areas, plant annual seedlings of:
      • Dianthus
      • Gaillardia
      • Geum
      • Gypsophila
      • Honesty
      • Impatiens
      • Nasturtium
      • Statice

      Indoor Plants

      Tips for Indoor Plants:

      Plants inside the home assist in purifying the air as well as lending a touch of greenery to your living areas. 

      Indoor plant growing inside a pot

       

      • Natural light is important but don’t stand pots on north or west-facing windowsills where they will be exposed to direct sun through the glass. 
      • Keep plants away from heaters and air conditioners that can dry the atmosphere.
      • Place a saucer or bowl of water near your plants to humidify the air.
      • Wipe leaves occasionally with a damp cloth to keep them clean.
      • Feed every few weeks with ready to use Osmocote Pour+Feed Indoor Plants – no mixing required.

      Lawn

      Maintenance tips:

      If you didn’t have time to give the mower a service last month, do it now before spring when it will be called into service quite frequently. As winter gradually recedes and the days become longer and a little warmer, the lawn will have quite a growth spurt - now is the time to fertilise. The type of fertiliser you use will depend on the health of your lawn. 

      Person fertilising lawn

       

      • A general purpose fertiliser like Lawn Builder All Purpose Slow Release Lawn Food, Lawn Builder Buffalo Slow Release Lawn Food or Lawn Builder Extreme Green Slow Release Lawn Food (all granular fertilisers that will feed your lawn for up to three months and suitable for all types of grass) will suit most situations.
      • However, if you have a broadleaf weed problem, then you may need to use Lawn Builder + Weedkill Slow Release Lawn Food but READ THE LABEL FIRST!  This fertiliser cannot be applied to buffalo grasses and some other lawn substitutes. 
      • Buffalo grasses and lawn substitutes can be treated and fed with Lawn Builder Buffalo Weed, Feed & Green Up, a hose-on product that can be safely used on all lawn types. However, it is not a slow release, long lasting lawn food. An application of Lawn Builder All Purpose or Lawn Builder Buffalo after eight weeks will keep the lawn growing strongly through to Summer. 
      • Control moss in shady areas with a solution of iron sulfate (30 grams in 4.5L of water) applied as a spray or with the watering will help control it. Re-apply if necessary.
      • If you’ve already fertilised the lawn when you notice broadleaf weeds including bindii spreading, use Lawn Builder Bindii, Clover & Broadleaf hose-on to eradicate them.
      In the warmer north:  
      • Water lawns deeply once a week if there’s no rain.
      • Remove weeds either by hand or with Lawn Builder Bindii, Clover & Broadleaf hose-on.
      • Apply a Lawn Builder Slow Release granular fertiliser to feed the lawn for up to three months.

      Garden Tasks

      Things to look out for and do during the month:
      • Keep flowering annuals and bulbs growing and flowering well with regular applications of Osmocote Boost+Feed All Plant Types.
      • Finish pruning deciduous trees and shrubs as soon as possible. DO NOT prune blossom trees (Prunus, etc) or Spring flowering shrubs – wait until after they have flowered. 
      • As soon as “bud swell” is noticed on fruiting and flowering trees and shrubs, apply a copper-based spray to prevent the occurrence of fungal diseases like mildews and leaf curl. Apply to fruit trees again after flowering, when fruits are just starting to form.
      • Last chance to sow a “green manure” crop of oats, peas and field lupins into empty vegetable beds; dig it in to add nitrogen to the soil when about 300-400mm in height.
       
        Pest Control:
        • Watch for the caterpillars of the White Cabbage Butterfly on cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli and other brassicas. Pyrethrum will assist or try a cabbage dust.
        • Slugs and snails can be active whenever there are young plants around – Defender Snail & Slug Pellets in a bait trap will protect your plants and keep your pets safe.
           

         

        Pests on a plant outside.
        ​

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