August flowering Hibiscus Syriacus
August is usually one of the hottest months of the year, making watering essential, but who knows what will happen this August. It does feel like we have not had a proper summer and to this end I have felt gardening has been quite challenging. I enjoyed my Spring Garden; the summer one has brought challenges chiefly the armies of slugs and snails they have been relentless, and the variable temperatures has not helped.
On a more positive note this is the time when you start planning for next Spring and get the bulb and seed books out.
Sowing Seeds
August is a great time to sow seeds and put in young plants. Temperatures normally this month are perfect for aiding seed germination, but naturally you need to water seedlings and newly planted plants.
For ornamental borders get ahead and plan for next year. Sowing hardy annuals now will give you an early crop of flowers in spring, while biennials sown in August will flower by the following summer.
Calendula
Calendulas are colourful and easy to grow, they can be sown in August and September, for flowers in the following spring. They’re hardy, so simply direct sow them where they are to flower, either in shallow drills on the ground or in pots.
Calendula officinalis
Cornflower
Cornflowers (Centaurea cyanus) can be sown in August for May flowers. Sow direct in shallow drills in the soil or on the surface of moist, peat-free compost in pots.
Cornflower – Centaurea cyanus
Forget-me-nots
Forget-me-nots (Myosotis sylvatica) can be sown throughout the summer months and into September. A useful ground cover plant for shade, and make a good companion plant with tulips, and will readily self-seed once established. Sow in seed trays for planting out in spring or direct where you want them to grow.
California poppies
The beautiful orange of California poppies, (Eschscholzia californica), despite their exotic look they are hardy annuals, and will survive a winter outdoors. Simply sow where you want them to flower, either in shallow drills in well-prepared beds or on the surface of moist peat-free compost in pots.
California poppies
Keeping your garden looking as good as it can for now:
Hanging Baskets
Don’t forget deadheading, watering and feeding of hanging baskets as if tended well it will help them last through until autumn.
Prune wisteria
Wisteria needs regular pruning to keep the growth and size under control, but it will also improve the flowering display.
Deadhead flowering plants regularly
Remove spent flowers once they start to look scruffy. The simplest method is to just pinch off the faded blooms, or snip back to the first leaf below the flower for a neater finish. This includes cosmos, geraniums, dahlias and penstemon to encourage the production of more flowers.
Privet
A good time to cut privet hedge, they should be trimmed twice a year between May and August. This is to maximise the growth and make the hedge stronger throughout the winter months. The more you trim the privet the thicker and denser it becomes.
Hebes
Trim back Hebes lightly after they have finished flowering to encourage, bushy, compact growth. Reduce the length of the stems by up to a third. Always make a clean cut just above a pair of leaves.
Ornamental Grasses
Don’t cut off the flowerheads of ornamental grasses as these will provide winter interest.
Plant late flowering perennials for colour
If you have gaps in your garden, you can fill those gaps with late-flowering perennials, these include sedums, asters and Japanese anemones. These should all be available in the garden centres. Dig a hole and mix in some well-rotted garden compost into the base. Water well and apply a thick mulch.
Potatoes for Christmas
You can now buy specially prepared seed potatoes for harvesting in time for Christmas. You can plant them in large pots or bags filled with 25 cm of potting compost. Place two seed potatoes on the surface 15 cm apart then cover with 15 cm of compost. Water each pot or bag well after planting and water whenever the compost dries out. Keep the plants frost free.
