August

Garden Tasks for August

• Make sure rhododendrons and camellias don't dry out as it's in late summer that they form flower buds for the following year.

• Prune rambling roses (but not other types of roses).  Remove a third of side shoots and stems that have flowered.

• Deadhead perennials to encourage further flowering.

• Prune wisteria (Jul/Aug pruning, the other pruning is Jan/Feb).   Cut back whippy side-shoots to about 20cm.

• Trim lavender plants after they've finished flowering to keep them compact, but avoid cutting into old wood.

• Apply a high-potash fertiliser (eg. a tomato feed) once fruits are set on tomatoes, peppers, cucumber, aubergine and sweet corn plants.

• Pinch out the tips of runner bean plants once they reach the top of their support. 

• Cut back leaves on grapevines to allow sunlight to reach the ripening fruit.