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  1. Home
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  4. August

Your Monthly Planting Guide

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.

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What to plant and do in August?

August is a great time to enjoy the best of your garden, but there are still plenty of jobs to do. Whether you want to know what vegetables, plants or seeds to plant in August, discover our essential tips for August gardening.

  • Vegetables
  • Fruit
  • Plants & Shrubs
  • Roses
  • Ornamental plants
  • Lawns
Cucumbers

Cucumbers

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

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Peas

Peas

Nothing beats home-grown peas for their tenderness and taste.

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How to grow onions

Onions

Onions (Allium cepa) are an essential ingredient in every cook’s store cupboard.

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how to grow courgettes

Courgettes (Cucurbita pepo)

Courgettes are now a common, summer staple in the vegetable garden.

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Caring for Runner Beans

Runner beans (Phaseolus coccineus)

Runner beans (Phaseolus coccineus) are among the easiest and most rewarding vegetables to grow.

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growing salad leaves

Salad leaves

Grow your own salad and you can pick exactly how much you want and need.

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growing sweetcorn

Sweetcorn

Sweetcorn, or maize, is sweet, tender and delicious – especially when cooked as soon as it is picked. Plenty of sun and...

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how to grow spring onions

Spring Onions

Spring onions are a delicious addition to a whole range of dishes, from summer salads to stir-fries.

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How to grow potatoes

Potatoes (Solanum tuberosum)

Potatoes (Solanum tuberosum) are tubers that grow and form at the plant’s roots.

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How to grow tomatoes

Tomatoes

Nothing beats the taste of your own home-grown tomatoes, freshly-picked and warm from the summer sun.

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How to grow garlic

Garlic (Allium sativum)

Garlic is the base of so many delicious dishes, and growing garlic at home is now very popular.

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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.

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How to Grow Lupins

How to grow and care for Lupins

Lupins are a traditional addition to any garden, providing colourful flowers from late spring through to mid-summer.

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How to Grow French Beans

How to Grow French Beans

French beans are a versatile vegetable, producing attractive, long, thin pods, and creamy haricot beans. They are a...

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How to grow and care for Cavolo Nero

How to grow and care for Cavolo Nero

‘Cavolo nero’ is a variety of kale, closely related to broccoli, cauliflower and cabbage.

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How to grow and care for Rocket salad leaves

How to grow and care for Rocket

Salad rocket, like its name, is a fast-growing salad leaf, perfect for adding a peppery spiciness to your salads.

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How to grow and care for Chard

How to grow and care for Chard

Chard, or Swiss Chard, is a delicious and beautiful plant which will bring harvests to the kitchen and colour to the...

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how to grow strawberries

Strawberries

If you’re a strawberry fan, the many varieties of ‘Fragaria × ananassa’ are easy to grow at home.

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How to grow raspberries

Raspberries (Rubus idaeus)

What could be better than a bowl of sweet, freshly-picked raspberries in summer?

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How to grow blueberries

Blueberries

Eaten fresh, baked in muffins or as the star attraction in jams or desserts, blueberries are always delicious.

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Avocado

Avocado

Avocados are a favourite fruit used in kitchens around the world.

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Love the Garden / Geranium

Geraniums

Geraniums are versatile plants which can add a multitude of colours and scents to the garden. Put these popular plants...

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How to Grow Banana Plants

How to Grow Banana Plants

With their exotic and enormous foliage, banana plants add a taste of the tropics to the garden. In the UK they rarely...

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How to Grow Butternut Squash

How to Grow Butternut Squash

Butternut squash are a late season favourite, with attractive fruits which will keep well throughout the autumn and...

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How to grow and care for peaches

How to grow and care for peaches

What better way to round off a summer meal than with a luscious peach? Even better, a peach you’ve grown yourself!

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How to grow and care for mango trees

How to grow and care for mango trees

Everyone loves mangoes, but did you know that you can grow a mango tree from a seed?

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How to grow and care for cherry trees

How to grow and care for cherry trees

Cherry trees are truly beautiful, with different species offering gorgeous flowers, bark, leaves, and fruit. You can...

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Crocosmia

How to grow and care for Crocosmia

Crocosmia bring flashes of bright colour and vibrance to a garden, with their graceful, delicately arching flower stalks...

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How to grow and care for Ceanothus

How to grow and care for Ceanothus

Ceanothus is a beautiful and eye-catching perennial shrub. The vivid and prolific blooms are usually blue, but white and...

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How to grow and care for Euphorbias

How to grow and care for garden Euphorbias

Hailing from a diverse range of habitats/regions, there’s a Euphorbia to suit you – whether you’re looking for a...

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How to grow and care for Buddleia

How to grow and care for Buddleia

Commonly known as the butterfly bush, Buddleia davidii is a hardy, summer flowering shrub which is very easy to grow.

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How to grow and care for Bay Trees

How to grow and care for Bay Trees

A slow-growing and easy-to-care-for plant, the bay tree is extremely popular. The aromatic leaves are widely used in all...

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How to grow and care for an Ornamental Quince

How to grow and care for an Ornamental Quince

The Ornamental Quince is a small, pretty shrub with lots to offer to any garden.

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How to grow and care for Asters

How to grow and care for Asters

Asters are perennials which produce lots of colourful daisy-like flowers year after year.

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How to grow and care for Dianthus

How to grow and care for Dianthus

You may have heard of Carnations, Sweet Williams, and Pinks - these are all types of Dianthus.

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How to grow and care for Verbena

How to grow and care for Verbena

The many different species of Verbena are great for bringing useful pollinators to the garden.

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How to grow roses

Roses (Rosa)

Roses (Rosa) are among our favourite garden plants – and deservedly so.

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How to grow sunflowers

Sunflowers

If you want to grow something spectacular, plant sunflowers.

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Caring for Alliums

Alliums

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

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how to grow sweet peas

Sweetpeas (Lathyrus odoratus)

Sweetpeas (Lathyrus odoratus) are an incredibly popular summer climbing plant. They produce masses of flowers all summer...

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How to grow and care for Geums

How to grow and care for Geums

Pretty and delicate, Geums provide colour throughout the summer. They are frost tolerant, happy in a range of soil types...

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How to grow and care for Honeysuckle

How to grow and care for Honeysuckle

Evocative of summer country gardens twining around garden fences, walls or pergolas, Honeysuckles are a favourite...

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How to grow and care for Helenium

How to grow and care for Helenium

Bearing bold flowers in orange, red and yellow, Heleniums are a bright and cheerful addition to the garden border.

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How to grow and care for Nerine bulbs

How to grow and care for Nerines

Perfect for autumn colour, the brightly coloured Nerine is a great addition to a sun-soaked border. They can also be...

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How to grow and care for Violas

How to grow and care for Violas

The Viola is an adaptable low growing bedding plant coming in both classic and trailing varieties.

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How to grow and care for Cosmos

How to grow and care for Cosmos

Cosmos, also known as Mexican Aster, is a great low maintenance and long flowering annual.

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How to grow and care for Snapdragons

How to grow and care for Snapdragons

Coming in a range of colours and sizes, Snapdragons bloom from June through to October on tall spire stems.

Read more

What vegetables to plant in August

August is the perfect time to think about quick- growing plants which can be picked before the year comes to an end.  These seeds can be sown straight into soil outside, filling the gaps left by previous harvests:

  • Carrots
  • Florence (bulb) fennel
  • Lettuce (Lamb’s lettuce, mizuna, mustard)
  • Pak Choi
  • Radish
  • Rocket
  • Spinach
  • Spring cabbage
  • Spring onions (winter varieties)
  • Turnips

They will give you a crop into late Autumn and beyond.

Plant out any remaining kale, winter/spring cauliflowers and winter cabbage plants, if you have them.

What vegetables to harvest in August

August is wonderful time in the vegetable garden. Your efforts from earlier in the year really pay off, and you could be harvesting any or all of the following:

  • Aubergine
  • Beetroot
  • Broad Beans
  • Broccoli
  • Carrots
  • Cauliflower
  • Chilli peppers
  • Courgettes
  • Cucumber
  • French Beans
  • Globe artichokes
  • Lettuce
  • Onions
  • Peas
  • Potatoes
  • Radish
  • Runner beans
  • Summer cabbage
  • Sweet peppers
  • Sweetcorn
  • Tomatoes
  • Turnips

Vegetable plant maintenance in August

Whilst you are harvesting crops from the vegetable patch, it’s worth doing the following too:

  • Asparagus - monitor closely for asparagus beetle, which will weaken future crops.  Remove by hand, and if you aren’t squeamish… squish them.
  • Aubergines - remove the top growing point to allow the plant to divert its energy into the developing fruit.
  • Beetroot - thin out plants gradually so that each has about 8cm (3in) of growing space.  Use the leaves as they are, and grate smaller roots into salads.
  • Broad Beans - once they have finished cropping, cut the plants to ground level. The roots will decay in the soil and provide a source of nitrogen to other plants.
  • Celery - water well, surround the stalks with newspaper and then earth up with soil.
  • Courgettes - pick when they are about 10cm (4in) long and before they have a chance to turn into marrows. Water well and use a tomato feed on them every fortnight.
  • French and Runner Beans - continue to harvest to help the plant produce more pods. Water well in dry weather and add a mulch of compost or grass clippings afterwards to conserve moisture.
  • Peas - protect from birds by covering with netting, or dangle shiny objects nearby which will move in the wind to deter them.
  • Sweetcorn - tap the stems of each plant every week to help pollination.
  • Blight can devastate tomato and potato crops at this time of year. Look out for brown patches on plants. Remove affected plant material immediately before it can spread to the edible parts of the plant.
  • Hoe the vegetable patch to reduce competition from weeds for moisture. Hand weed asparagus, carrots and beetroot as they can be easily damaged.

What fruit to plant in August

While there aren’t a lot of fruits that you can plant in August, strawberries can be planted in August to be overwintered and then produce larger crops in the summer.

What fruit to harvest in August

There are so many different fruits ripening in August.  Relish eating them fresh from the plant, still warm from the summer sun.  Depending on the variety grown, all of the following fruit can be harvested this month:

  • Apricots
  • Autumn raspberries
  • Blackcurrants
  • Cherries
  • Grapes 
  • Mulberries
  • Nectarines
  • Peaches
  • Plums
  • Redcurrants
  • Strawberries

Most will not store well unless frozen, dried or cooked. There should be plenty more to come however, so enjoy them straight from the plant whilst thinking about what you might do with any surpluses.

Fruit plant maintenance in August

Wandering around the garden picking your homegrown fruit is also a good chance to check the same plants for pests and diseases.  Some of the following may be noticeable at this time of year:

  • Birds - net figs and late varieties of cherries to protect them from pecking.
  • Brown rot - a fungal disease that can affect many different types of fruit. It can spread quickly. Remove any affected material, and plan to prune later in the year to improve air circulation.
  • Codling moth caterpillars - damages apples and pears, you may find an exit hole on the fruit, and further tunnelling towards the centre.  Pheromone traps should be used in the spring to trap the moths before they lay eggs on fruit.
  • Wasps - if these are a problem, create a wasp trap to draw them away from the fruit. Pierce holes in the lid of an old jam jar, add a dollop of jam to the jar, put the top on and leave nearby - and away from areas you will visit frequently.

Well-timed pruning of fruit is important to keep the plants productive.  August is the correct time to prune:

  • Supported apple and pear trees, for example cordons and espalier trained plants.  Doing this in the summer helps to direct new growth in a way that retains the intended shape.
  • Plum trees are best pruned when in full growth, and not in colder months when cuts can introduce disease.
  • Remove Summer-fruiting raspberry canes which produced fruit earlier in the year.  Those canes will be brown and woody.  Newer canes are green and should be thinned to about 25cm (10in) apart.

Other activities to keep you busy in the fruit patch in August include:

  • Sever runners from old strawberry plants and move the new plants to a different location if the bed looks crowded. Strawberry plants need about 30cm (12in) space between them.
  • Check netting on fruit bushes to ensure it is taut and secure enough to keep birds away from the fruit.
  • Cut back foliage on grape vines to allow the sun to ripen bunches of fruit.
  • Water any new fruit bushes and trees in spells of very hot weather. It is important that they can establish well to give you many years of productivity.
  • Feed citrus plants, such as lemons and kumquats, with a special citrus plant food.

What trees and shrubs to plant in August

Any plants which have been container grown can be planted out now, although they will need careful attention to survive the demands of a hot summer. Container-grown plants which you could plant out now include:

  • Buddleia
  • Camelias
  • Ceanothus
  • Deutzia
  • Hydrangeas
  • Roses

 

If you can wait until later in the year to plant perennials, they will need less care and maintenance, leaving you free to concentrate on other activities in the garden.

What trees and shrubs to prune in August

  • Wisteria should be summer pruned to make sure that it does not start to enter crevices in walls and guttering.  Remove any lateral shoots at the base and any straggly growth.
  • Choisya, Lavender, Nepeta and Weigela should be pruned to a tidy shape, once they have finished flowering.
  • Alchemilla, Delphinums and Hardy geraniums can be cut back to remove browning leaves.

Tree and shrub maintenance in August

Watering and weeding are the main activities to concentrate on in August:

  • Newly planted container-grown perennials should be well watered in dry spells.
  • Established perennial plants should only be watered only in very dry spells. They already have strong root systems that can withstand a period of drought.
  • Bindweed can be a nuisance in established borders and should be removed as soon as you see it. The beautiful flowers can make it seem worth keeping, but there are other species of Convolvulus which are just as pretty but non-invasive.
  • Keep on top of weeds by lightly hoeing the soil around shrubs. Do this on a sunny day to allow the weather to dry and shrivel them.

Deadhead plants to encourage them to produce new flowers. Cut the flowerhead back to the nearest next flower bud. This will help the plant to produce more flowers.

What roses to plant in August

Roses grown in containers can be planted out in August. They can be moved to larger, more ornate containers, or planted out into a border to provide a beautiful scent whenever you past them.

There are a few simple things you can do to help a new rose settle into its home stress-free:

  • Select an appropriate location for the rose.  Many roses thrive in the sun, but varieties are available which suit other conditions, such as particularly shady spots.
  • Water the soil before planting and add plenty of compost.
  • Make sure that the hole or container which you will plant the rose in is several inches deeper and wider than the roots of the rose.
  • Tease the roots from the container to encourage them to spread.
  • Loosely tie the rose to a cane inserted into the soil, to provide it with extra support.
  • Water well in the dry heat of August, first thing in the morning or in the evening.

There are many types of rose to choose from, depending on the space and location you have in mind.

What roses to prune in August

Rambling roses should be cut back by removing about a third of the plant.  The remaining branches should be tied into wire supports which are fixed against a wall.

Here is plenty of useful guidance about how to prune roses.

Rose maintenance in August

August is a time to be vigilant in the rose garden.  Dry heat as well as humidity can create ideal conditions for a number of damaging pests and diseases.  Look out for the following:

  • Aphids - often the first noticeable sign is an unsightly black ‘soot’ on leaves. This is a mould growing on sticky excretions left by aphids which have been busy sucking sap from the rose. The aphids particularly enjoy newer growth, such as buds and young leaves. Squash them, encourage predators such as ladybirds and lacewings, or spray to control.
  • Blackspot - a fungal disease which causes black marks on the leaves, and sometimes yellowing on the wider leaf. Leaves can drop off entirely. This problem can be very damaging to roses, seriously inhibiting their development. Do not compost material from any roses which you think may have this disease, as you risk spreading it around the garden. Spray with a treatment specifically aimed at controlling rose problems.
  • Large rose sawfly - look out for sawflies, their eggs and larvae. Encourage birds to the garden, which will feast on them.
  • Powdery mildew - a fungal disease which causes white growth on the rose. It can damage long buds, meaning fewer flowers on the rose. Prune in the autumn and winter to increase air flow around the plant.

Roses can be made more resilient by providing them with a specialist feed.  This will also prolong the flowering period and keep the leaves looking lush and green in the summer sun.

Encourage more blooms by continuing to deadhead roses. Cut back to the next bud behind any dead flowers.

Flowers and bulbs

Plant bulbs and bulb-like corms now for a colourful display in the autumn.  Plant them into pots or well-drained soil where they will receive plenty of sunlight:

  • Autumn-flowering Crocus
  • Colchicum 
  • Cyclamen
  • Nerines
  • Sternbergia

Seeds of Centauria (Cornflowers), pansies and violas can also be sown now.  

Flower and bulb maintenance in August

August is a very busy time in the garden.  Thankfully the weather is usually warm and dry, so maintaining flowers and bulbs can be a good excuse to spend extra time outside in the garden:

  • Stake tall plants which are top heavy, such as dahlias and lilies. This protects them from snapping in strong winds, and means that the tubers, bulbs and root systems are not damaged by excessive movement.
  • Water flowers and bulbs in containers. The heat of August can quickly dry out pots. Water early in the morning or later in the evening, once they are no longer in direct sunlight.
  • Hanging baskets can be taken down in the evening and placed in a tray of water to help them take up water overnight.
  • Collect seeds from plants which you want to grow again next year, such as sweet peas, poppies, love-in-a-mist and any wildflower areas.  The seeds should be dry and should rattle in their pods when you shake them.
  • Monitor for pests and diseases, such as lily beetles on lilies and fritillaries. These will strip plants very quickly, so destroy them by squishing any that you find.

Lawn maintenance in August

Mowing your lawn in August:

  • Rake the lawn before you mow it. This helps the lawn mower to reach the weeds.
  • Mow weekly to encourage grass roots to regenerate themselves. This will encourage a thicker sward and mean it is more resilient to extremes of weather.
  • Cut to a height of 5cm long or more. This will help to protect the grass in very dry weather.
  • Leave the lawn clippings on the grass if you can. This helps the lawn to retain moisture and provides a useful source of nitrogen for the grass.
  • Strim any areas where you allowed wildflowers to grow, as these will now be past their best.

Watering your lawn:

  • Water the lawn in spells of very dry weather to keep it looking green and lush. However, avoid using a sprinkler unless you are able to move it around frequently, as this can unnecessarily saturate the soil and discourage new grass from rooting strongly.
  • Don’t panic if your lawn goes brown in the heat of summer. It will recover in the autumn.
  • Aerate the lawn using a garden fork to help air and moisture to reach grass roots.

Problems to look out for:

  • Weed out dandelions with a daisy grubber, which pulls the long taproot from the soil.  Dandelions seed themselves freely and create competition for the grass to reach moisture and essential nutrients.
  • Monitor for leatherjackets and treat if a nuisance.

Finishing touches:

  • Keep lawn edges neat and crisp with edging shears. This above all else makes the garden look noticeably tidier.
  • Sow fresh grass seed in shallow pots or trays to fill any bare patches later in the autumn.
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!
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