August, wow... can you believe it's actually here?
It's time to get out our list for August gardening jobs and get to it!
Does your list need brushing up? Not sure where to start? We've got you covered!
Have a read of our list of important August gardening jobs, provided below. Enjoy!
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Deadheading
If you wish to sustain your plants' attractive quality and keep them blooming, deadheading is a must. Such a task is applicable to many different types of plants, including those grown in hanging baskets and containers, as well as beds and borders.
You can deadhead your plants either by using your thumb and finger or by using scissors, secateurs, or a knife. If using your thumb and finger, make sure to pinch off any faded blooms and detach the flower and its stalk. If opting to deadhead with a sharper tool, trim away at the depleted flower and trim back to above the next available leaf or bud on the stem.
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Summer Pruning
To guarantee good cropping for next year, you will need to do some Summer pruning. Essentially, Summer pruning requires you to cut back new shoots so that light can more easily access fruit so they can successfully ripen.
To prune efficiently, you'll need to first reduce the new shoots, which are more than 8 inches long and grow from three leaves above the main leaf clusters and the main stem. Then make sure to reduce new shoots developing from any sub-laterals to one leaf above the main cluster. After that, you need to get rid of any upright growth. Should you experience any secondary growth after completing your Summer pruning, then prune away any September regrowth to one leaf after your past cut.
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Green Manures
To stop soil erosion and weed growth, it is recommended that you invest in green manure plants this Summer. Green manures can improve your soil's structure, as they cover any exposed soil and bring back important nutrients.
To successfully plant green manures in your soil, you will need to first sow seeds in rows or scatter them across your soil before raking them into the soil's surface. After needing your land for cropping, you must then reduce the foliage and allow it to wilt. Following that, ensure you dig the foliage and plants into the first 10 inches of your soil. You can then leave the area for two weeks, after which you plant out or sow so that any decaying green matter doesn't prevent any plant growth.
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Watering
Watering your plants is gardening 101. It is essential in your garden all year round, although especially between May and September.
How frequently you water your plants depends on the plants you have growing in the garden; however, the general rule of (green) thumb is that you water your plants at their roots and not just their leaves. Of course, climate has a significant impact, and so if you're faced with increasingly hotter weather, you will need to water your plants more regularly.
It is recommended that you water in the mornings, given that this is the point at which the sun rises and the plants begin using water and give off water vapour via stomata.
You should avoid watering during the hottest parts of the day, as water is easily lost from the soil's surface thanks to evaporation. Aim for both the morning and evening, as your plants use water better during the cooler periods of the day.
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Pond Care
Ponds provide a unique hub spot for wildlife in your garden, as well as help your garden stand out a little from the crowd. But, like with everything, it has to be maintained.
The maintenance jobs, of course, will vary depending on the season. In the Summer, some of these jobs include ensuring that, in the hotter weather, you are keeping the water well oxygenated and the blue-green algae levels down, especially if you have wildlife, like fish, living in your pond. The way to do this is by providing a bubble fountain, such as a solar-powered one. You should also remove any other pond algae and weeds, especially in the hotter weather when they're prone to growing faster. Remove it with a net or stick. Also, check your ramps for wildlife, making sure they're in place so wildlife can safely get in and out of the pond.
When it comes to your pond plants, it is recommended that you reduce any excess plant growth and take off any shabby leaves before they decompose in the water. If you have any underwater oxygenating plants, make sure to remove any bunches that are excessive.
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Seed Collecting
Collecting seeds from your plants is super easy to do, and there are various seed heads you can collect, from berries to pods.
Start by collecting any ripe seed on a dry day, just as the seed heads are ripening. Retrieve the seed heads and put them out to dry on a bench in your greenhouse, airing cupboard, or warm windowsill. If they refuse to open when dry, lightly crush the capsules and pods to remove the seed. If removing seeds from fruits and berries, you'll need to grind them in a thin sieve and rinse out any pulp with cold water before leaving the seed to dry on paper towels for a few days. You will need to inspect exploding seed heads every few days. Make sure to put a bag over the seed heads and shake it. If you are collecting nut seeds, grab them when they fall naturally from trees and their branches. After removing seeds, you need to clean off any chaff present so that the seed won't dampen.
You can sow some seeds straight away; however, others have to be stored for a better-suited time of the year, i.e., Autumn or Spring. Most seed heads are stored in the fridge, while some are in airtight containers. At the end of the day, it depends on the seed head.
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Wisteria Pruning
Due to their robust growth and overall size, wisteria need to be pruned regularly. If pruned twice a year, wisterias are more likely to flower better.
Removing growth in the Summer will enable greater air circulation and grant sunlight better access to the young growth's base. This in turn will increase the ripening of the wood and, thus, flower bud formation. Also, more flowers will be produced if you cut back on the vegetative growth.
After the wisteria flowers in July or August, make sure to reduce the whippy green shoots from the current year's growth to either five or six leaves. Doing so will enable you to control the wisteria's size better, stopping it from coming into windows and guttering, as well as making it form flower buds and not green growth.
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And there you have it, folks!
Thanks so much for reading. We hope it was helpful.
Should you have any further enquiries regarding garden maintenance this Summer, then please do not hesitate to contact us on 01858 545819. Alternatively, pop into our garden centre and speak to our team, who will be more than happy to help.
Until next time!