Explore things to do in your garden every month
Gardening in August
August is often one of the hottest and driest months of the year, reliably bringing the summer to a glorious close. An abundance of warm and dry weather means that there is a lot to do to keep our gardens looking at their best. Watering becomes a critical activity as we give plants a helping hand in the heat, the vegetable patch is cropping heavily, and the lawn is in full use as a place to relax in the sun.
Things to do this month
Have a watering plan in place if you are going away. Ask friends, family and neighbours to pop in, or set up an automatic watering system.
Containers are especially vulnerable in hot weather as the plants in them have less soil from which to obtain water.
Keep paths looking good by dealing with any weeds that appear between the cracks.
Turn the compost heap. Keep it active, keep adding to it, and enjoy the many benefits that homemade compost will bring to your garden.
Leave a pile of twigs and seeds heads aside for wildlife to feast upon before they hibernate in the autumn.
Trim hedges before their growth slows in the autumn.
Pick pretty flowers, such as Dahlias, for displaying in the home or as a gift to a neighbour or friend.
Top up bird baths and ponds. Water will evaporate quickly in the heat of summer.
Make sure you have found time to sit back and relax in your beautiful garden!