August is a month of abundance and transition…

The garden is still overflowing with flowers, fruit and vegetables, but there are subtle signs that the seasons are beginning to change. Cooler mornings, shorter evenings and the first falling leaves remind us that autumn is just around the corner.

It’s a rewarding month to enjoy the fruits of your gardening efforts, while beginning to prepare for the seasons ahead.

Make the Most of the Harvest

The vegetable garden is at its most productive in August. Tomatoes, courgettes, runner beans, cucumbers, sweetcorn and beetroot should all be providing generous crops.

Continue picking regularly, particularly beans and courgettes, to encourage plants to keep producing. If you have space, sow quick-growing crops such as lettuce, spinach, rocket and spring onions for fresh harvests later in the summer and into autumn.

As crops finish, clear away spent plants and add healthy material to the compost heap. Leaving beds tidy now will make autumn planting and preparation much easier.

Enjoy the Fruit

August is a wonderful month for fruit. Apples, plums, blackberries, blueberries and early pears may all be ready to harvest, while raspberries can continue cropping into the month.

Pick fruit as it ripens and remove any damaged or fallen produce to discourage pests and disease. Summer-fruiting raspberries that have finished cropping can be pruned, removing the old canes that have produced fruit this year and making space for new growth.

Keep Summer Colour Going

The flower garden is still full of life in August. Dahlias, hydrangeas, rudbeckias, echinaceas and salvias can provide spectacular late-summer colour, helping to keep borders looking vibrant as some of the earlier flowers begin to fade.

Continue deadheading regularly to encourage more blooms, but towards the end of the month consider leaving some seed heads standing. They can provide valuable food for birds, shelter for insects and plenty of winter interest.

August is also a good time to refresh tired areas of the garden with late-flowering plants. Introducing perennials, grasses and flowering shrubs that provide colour well into autumn can help extend the season and create a garden that feels full and vibrant for longer.

Look After Containers

Hanging baskets and containers can dry out quickly during warm weather, so check them regularly and water thoroughly when needed. A weekly feed will help keep plants healthy and flowering well.

If you’re going away on holiday, think ahead about how your containers will be watered. Moving them into a cooler, sheltered spot can help reduce water loss while you’re away.

Care for Your Lawn

Lawns may still be feeling the effects of summer heat, particularly if rainfall has been limited. Raise the mowing height during dry spells to reduce stress on the grass, and avoid watering established lawns unless absolutely necessary.

Towards the end of the month, as temperatures begin to cool and rainfall becomes more reliable, lawns will often start to recover naturally.

Start Planning for Spring

Although summer is still in full swing, August is the perfect time to start thinking ahead. Spring-flowering bulbs will soon be available to plant in the autumn, so take a moment to think about where you’d like to see colour next year.

Consider adding bulbs to borders, containers or areas of grass for a welcome display after winter. You can also take cuttings from favourite tender plants such as pelargoniums, fuchsias and salvias, and collect seeds from healthy annuals and perennials you’d like to grow again next year.

Make Space for Wildlife

Wildlife remains busy throughout August. Butterflies, bees and other pollinators continue to make the most of flowering plants, while birds appreciate fresh water and natural food sources.

Keep birdbaths topped up during warm weather and provide shallow dishes of water for insects. Leaving some areas of the garden slightly wild and allowing seed heads to remain can provide valuable food and shelter as the seasons begin to change.

Enjoy the Last Days of Summer

August is a month to savour. The garden is generous, colourful and full of life, yet there is a gentle reminder that autumn is on its way.

Take time to enjoy the last long evenings, harvest what you’ve grown and appreciate the plants that have performed particularly well this year. Make a note of your favourites and think about where you might introduce more colour next year.

By enjoying the abundance of August while preparing gently for the changing season, you’ll help ensure your garden continues to thrive well into autumn.

Looking for inspiration? Come and see what’s looking beautiful at Batsford this August. Take a stroll through the arboretum, enjoy the seasonal colour and pop into our Garden Centre for plants and ideas to help keep your own garden looking beautiful throughout the changing seasons.

 

Happy gardening!