August is a month of sunshine and relaxing in the garden and looking to buy plants online, but there are still things to do to keep the garden healthy going forward. If your looking for jobs to do in the garden in August here is some important gardening advice from Emerald plants – the 6 most important jobs to do in the garden in August.
1. Watering: It is important to water your plants in August, especially during the very hottest weather. Make sure to give your plants a good soaking, and water them regularly throughout the month. The best time of day to water plants in summer is early morning, before the sun gets too hot and in evening when much of the heat has subsided but there’s still enough light to get all the watering done safely and easily. This will help to prevent your plant supplies from wilting in the heat in the warm first half of the day, and give them plenty of water to replenish themselves at night.
2. Weeding: It’s one thing looking to buy plants from an online garden centre but looking after your existing plants means getting to grips with weeds. Weeds can quickly take over your garden if left unchecked, so make sure to spend some time weeding in August. Pull up any weeds you see, and make sure to get rid of the roots as well. You may also notice that even left for a short time, brambles can grow quickly and start interfering with your other plants if your don’t regularly inspect the garden at this time of year.
3. Feeding: Feed your plants with a good quality fertiliser and plant foods in August to help them grow strong and healthy. Follow the instructions on the packet or bottle, and feed your plants once a week. This will speed them along and keep them healthy so you garden’s looking its best.
4. Pruning: Prune any dead or overgrown branches from your plants in August. This will help keep them healthy and looking tidy, and give the plants a chance grow new shoots. It’s at this time of year some plants can start to grow very quickly in all directions so staying on top of the pruning tends to go up the list of priorities.
5. Mulching: Mulch around your plants in August with some organic matter such as compost or straw, leaves / leaf mould, or bark to help keep the soil moist and cool. Mulching is an under-used gardening tip for August which is particularly valuable in the summer months and is an easy way keep the soil moist by preventing evaporation.
6. Planting: August is a great time to sew seeds and to plant young plants, new flowers and vegetables in your garden that you may have purchased from an online garden centre. Choose plants that are suited to the conditions in your area, and make sure to water them regularly to give them the best start in what has now become a very dry month.
Which plants are flowering in August?
Some of the UK plants that love the hot weather the most are sunflowers, marigolds, and petunias.
Examples of some plants that are flowering in August include Abelia e.g., Abelia Confetti, Buddleja Pink Delight and other Buddlejas, Choisya White Dazzler, Fuchsia Riccartonii, Hydrangea Ami Pasquier, Magnolia Grandiflora ‘Exmouth’, and many more. August is a wonderful month when the garden is awash with colour.