Summer is at its peak. Gardeners want to keep their outdoor space beautiful for as long as possible. There is still a lot of gardening to do in August, which is of great importance for the healthy development of the plants.
August is the month when the garden should be full of colorful flowers and maturing plants. Of course, the necessary care should not be missing. With these tips, your garden will always look fantastic in late summer.
What plants prune in August
Removing the flower heads ensures that the plants receive healthy, sustained blooms. August is the ideal month to cut back perennials and potted plants in the garden. Encourage blooming in late summer by removing spent flowers from your flowering perennials. Collect the ripe seeds from your spent flowers and save them for next year. Leaving a few seed heads can be attractive and allows the plant to self-seed in the surrounding soil.
Prune the plants regularly to keep them well-groomed and beautiful. Don't let the perennials overgrow. Always keep your best pruning shears clean and sharp to avoid damaging plant stems.
Prune wisteria and climbing shrubs such as pyracantha after flowering. Dog roses and lavender can do just as easily after floweringbe cut back, so you can get them in good shape. Dahlias and petunias can also be cut back in August. Self-seeding of plants such as gladioli and allium can be prevented by removing inflorescences.
Now trim hedges one last time. By the end of this month, the garden birds should have left their nests so you can start pruning. Trim laurel hedges with secateurs rather than hedge trimmers to avoid half-cut leaves turning brown.
Take cuttings from perennials
It is always advisable to take cuttings from your favorite perennials because cuttings will give you more plants and if the mother plants do not survive the winter, save the young plants as replacements.
Once you have taken the cuttings, put them in a pot with seeds or peat-free soil mixed with gravel to improve drainage and place them in a warm and bright place away from direct sunlight. The cuttings should begin to root and grow within 4-6 weeks. Store them in a frost-free greenhouse or cool room over the winter and keep the plants hydrated.
How often to water in August
Soil moisture in August plays an important role because the soil dries out easily at this time if there is no rain. When do you water us correctly? Water your plants during the coolest time of day - this way the water doesn't evaporate before the plant can absorb it. Water directly to the roots of the plants - this is where the moisture is needed. If you spray the leaves, the water cannot reach the roots properly and wet leaves promote fungal diseases.
Water once a week when the weather is dry, using enough water to moisten the soil to a depth of about 6 inches each time. It's okay if the surface of the soil dries out between waterings, but the soil underneath should remain moist. Add a thick layer of mulch around your perennials to retain moisture.
Divide perennial flowers in August
What gardening work needs to be done in August? August is the best time to divide perennial flowers in your garden. What can you share? Hostas, lilies, daylilies, ornamental grasses and bearded irises. Lift the plant out of the ground with a spade, being careful not to damage the root ball. Use a large garden knife to cut the roots into smaller pieces and replant as soon as possible. Water well.
Tip: Be careful not to divide your perennial plants while they are blooming. Dividing the plant when it is not flowering allows all of the plant's energy to go into root and leaf growth.
Plant perennials and shrubs in late summer
Late summer is the perfect time to plant perennials and flowering shrubs because they have enough time to become established in the cool, wet fall weather. Plant hydrangeas, daylilies, lilies, sedums, ornamental grasses, peonies and bearded irises in August. Just make sure you get your new onesPlants are well watered. Mulching the beds also helps to retain soil moisture. In colder regions, new plantings should be covered with a protective blanket of straw or leaves in the first winter so that they remain well protected.
Gardening in August: Take Care of Your Lawn
In the heat, your lawn needs certain care. Remove dead grass from the lawn with a large rake. Then you can aerate it with a fork or spade to improve drainage and top-dress with a mixture of sharp sand or compost. Mow yoursLawn in August, but not too short, otherwise the grass will turn brown.
Plant new flower bulbs
August is the month when you need to plant next year's bulbs. If gaps appear in beds and borders, now is the ideal time to plant bulbs, including alliums, crocuses, daffodils and snowdrops. This way you have fresh flowers in your garden in early spring.
Harvest herbs in August
It is important to harvest herbs at the right time. The oils responsible for the most intense flavor reach their peak in late summer, just before the plants bloom. When youHarvest herbs? Cut the foliage early in the morning before the day gets hot.
One of the easiest and quickest ways to store herbs is to rinse them under cold water, chop them roughly, and place them in ice cube trays filled with water. Then simply place the bowls in the freezer and remove the frozen herbs when you need them.
Tip: Stop pruning perennial herbs such as tarragon, lavender, sage, oregano and thyme at least a month before the last expected frost because pruning encourages new growth that does not have time to harden off before the onset of cold weather.
Control weeds in the garden
As the growing season ends, weeds begin producing thousands of seeds that will germinate in your garden next spring. You can prevent that. It is best to remove weeds by hand. The best time to do this is after a rain.
You can pull out the weeds by hand or with a hoe. Just be sure to remove the roots, as some weeds regenerate quickly from roots left in the soil. It is advisable to weed little and often because the more often you weed, the less effort you have to get rid of the weeds before they take root.
Tip: It's worth investing in a pair of the best gardening gloves as some weeds are prickly and can irritate the skin.
Harvest and care for fruit trees
Cherries, plums, peaches, nectarines and apricots should now be ripe and ready to be harvested. Harvest the fruit and support any branches that have borne a heavy harvest. Trim damaged or broken branches to get the trees into good shape. Also cut raspberry canes that have produced fruit back to the ground and cut blackcurrants back by a third.
Which vegetables to harvest in the garden
What gardening tasks can still be done in August? In the vegetable garden there are vegetables to harvest, such as potatoes and onions. They are ready to harvest as soon as the leaves turn brown and fall off. How do you harvest potatoes and onions? Loosen the soil first. Gently dig around each plant and lift it out of the ground. After digging, cut off the dead leaves with secateurs. Gently brush off any excess soil still attached to the tray.
Then move the potatoes and onions to a shady, well-ventilated area to cure for up to ten days. How to extend the shelf life. Store potatoes in well-ventilated boxes in a dark room. When exposed to light, they turn green and are unusable. Onions can be stored in mesh bags hanging from the ceiling in a cool, dark room.
