August Garden Tips & Advice

Cordon Tomato plants should have their tops removed this month this will give the remaining fruit time to develop and ripen before the cold weather and frosts in late autumn.

 If your garden is looking a little tired in the height of summer plant some sun lovers such as Agapanthus, Salvia, Verbena or Penstemon for some summer colour to keep the show going.

Rhododendrons, Azaleas and Camellias are now all forming next year’s buds so keep them well watered and fed  to provide a wonderful colourful display next spring, pay particular attention to container grown specimens which are more likely to dry out.

Hot summer weather can lower oxygen levels in ponds, having a small fountain running can help alleviate this problem.

On a sunny day don’t forget to collect seeds of your favourite plants ready for sowing next year’s display.

Pots of straw on top of canes or stakes can be used to trap earwigs to reduce the damage they do to flowers such as Dahlias and Chrysanthemums.

The stems of Loganberries, Tayberries and summer Raspberries which have finished fruiting can now be pruned back to the ground, the new stems can then be tied in ready for next year’s crop.

The new growth on established Wisteria plants should be cut back to 5 or 6 buds from the main stem to encourage more flowers, on young specimens tie in this new growth to extend the plants framework.

Cut back some of the leaves on grape vines to allow the sun to ripen the fruit and allow air circulation which will help prevent fungal diseases.

Plums, Apricot and Peach trees which need pruning should be done immediately after harvesting, pruning before leaf fall helps the wounds to heal quicker and prevent infections such as silver leaf.

Keep picking courgettes when they are around 10cm long to stop them turning into marrows and encourage more growth.

Remove leaves of Tomato plants to just above the ripening trusses to allow in light and good air circulation, the tops of cordon tomatoes can also be pinched out soon to allow the fruit to ripen before the cold weather.

Pick runner and French beans regularly to stop them setting seed and stopping flowering which will reduce the crop.

Damp down greenhouses on hot days to increase humidity and deter red spider mites which love hot dry conditions.