August is a month when flowers are in full bloom. As most of the hard gardening work is through, many jobs this month are caring for and maintaining your garden space. Here is our guide to August gardening jobs for keeping those Greenfingers busy.
See what plants and vegetables you can grow in August.
August Gardening Jobs
Most of the jobs in the garden throughout August ensure your plants stay happy and healthy. Scroll to the end for a handy checklist of all the August gardening jobs covered.
Watering
Watering is a main priority due to the hot weather and people going on holiday. It is important to make sure plants stay hydrated and continue getting the nutrients they need. For those going on holiday, make plans to keep your plants watered.
A hot spell can soon dry out and ruin your plants. Try to get a friend or family member to water your plants while you’re away. Many people believe that plants need watering every day. This is not the case.
Watering too much can waterlog your plants, especially if there is insufficient drainage. Check the moisture of the soil before watering. Sticking your finger to knuckle height is an excellent way to check. If the soil is dry, then water your plants.
Here is a pro tip for watering your plants. Watering deep into the soil and not sparsely on the soil surface helps promote more vigorous root growth. It also helps the roots to soak up water much faster than water on the surface.
Weeding
Weed control is another priority during August. Weeds thrive in hot weather and can be very difficult to control. Not only do they detract from your display, but they also steal nutrients and water that your plants need.
Failing to keep on top of the weeds will cause them to grow much faster and in greater quantity. Your lovely flower displays can be ruined by a swarm of weeds that grow while you’re away. All your hard effort can easily go to waste, even if one or two slip past the radar.
Always ensure you fully dig the weed out, including the roots. Otherwise, the weed will grow back stronger next time. For larger areas, consider covering them with black tarpaulin or plastic. This starves the weeds of sunlight and will eventually kill them off.
The best time to remove weeds is while the soil is moist. Preferably after some rain, as the ground is much easier to dig them out. Add a weed killer if necessary or if you struggle to remove the weed root completely.
Pruning and Deadheading
Sufficient preparations before going on holiday can also ensure your garden doesn’t overgrow. It’s surprising how quickly things can overgrow during August, so pruning and deadheading are also recommended.
Try to remove any deadheads as soon as possible. Otherwise, plants will put energy into producing seeds. Pull or cut off dead flowerheads as quickly as possible unless you want to keep seeds for the next flowering season.
Plants like lavender will require light pruning by cutting off old flower spikes and 1 inch of leafy growth at the tip. Hedges should be cut back towards the end of the month, ready for winter. August is also a perfect time of the year to take root cuttings of plants.
Lawn
The lawn should be mowed once fortnightly during the summer to keep it healthy. Mowing during the cooler temperatures in the morning or evening is beneficial. It is best to raise the blade for a shorter trim to reduce the stress on grass blades.
You should avoid mowing the lawn too short during the hot weather. Otherwise, the lawn will grow back at a much quicker rate. You will only need to get the mower out again on your return.
Keep new lawns well-watered to support growth and adaptability to a new environment. For older lawns, there is little need for water, even if the lawn is dried out. The rain and Autumn season will rehydrate your lawn.
You can apply a high-phosphate fertiliser to the lawn if you wish. A high-phosphate fertiliser establishes robust root growth and prepares the lawn for the cold winter. Avoid using high-nitrogen fertilisers during the summer period.
Indoor plants
Indoor plants are typically harder than outdoor plants and may require less watering or attention. However, they do still need watering and care to keep them healthy. How much watering and attention depends on the plant species.
Houseplants still need watering and sufficient climate control during the summer. Many house plants are not suited for humid conditions. If you keep houseplants in a room that becomes very hot in the summer, it can be bad news for your plants.
A great way to water your houseplants is bottom watering. As the name suggests, bottom watering involves watering plants from the bottom up. This does require a planter or vase with drainage holes at the bottom. Leave sufficient water in a bowl, and the roots will soak up the water.
For those more creative, consider making a self-watering planter. These are ideal for keeping your house plants sufficiently hydrated while you are away. Check out this guide to crafting your own self-watering planter.
Water features & ponds
For those with a water feature or a pond in the garden, keep an eye on the water level. During hot spells, water can quickly evaporate. This will cause a lack of water in the pond, and oxygen levels will be much lower.
Ensuring the water levels do not drop too much will provide sufficient oxygen for both fish and aquatic plants.
Preserve water
August is typically the hottest month, meaning the garden needs more water than at other times of the year. Hosepipe bans can also be a common occurrence in very dry spells. If you rely on a hosepipe or sprinklers for your garden, this can be a problem.
It’s always a good idea to try and preserve as much water as possible during the summer. Any spouts of rain can be an excellent source for saving and stocking up on water. Rainwater is ideal for use in the garden and watering plants.
While a waterbutt is the best way to save rainwater, you can use any container that holds water. You can also reuse water from the house in the water. Providing you haven’t used lashings of soap or detergents, you can reuse sink and bath water in the garden too.
Vegetables
If you have a vegetable garden, there are also some jobs to do in August. Some of the fruit (or veg) of your labour will be ready to harvest. Onions are the top vegetable to harvest in August once the foliage collapses.
Other vegetables, such as marrows and courgettes, should also be harvested while still young for better taste. Beans are also another vegetable to get picking in August. You can also freeze peas to keep them fresh.
Some fruit is ripe for picking in August. Apples and pears are two fruits you can pick (providing they are ripe enough). The best way to check this is to see whether there is any fruit on the ground. Start picking once the first fruit falls to the ground.
While there is little planting to do in August, there are still plenty of maintenance jobs to keep on top of. The main priorities in keeping plants hydrated, keeping on top of weeds, and deadheading plants. Happy gardening!
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For those wanting a handy checklist, here is a list of the jobs we covered:
