Weeding and Watering
- Stay on top of weeding in flower beds and borders, preventing weeds from going to seed.
- Continue feeding and watering baskets and other containers regularly, as the task is crucial for healthy plants.
Planting and Propagation
- Buy fresh spring bulbs and plant them as soon as possible for better flowering.
- Pot up thirty to fifty crocus corms in a broad shallow bowl for a terrific spring display.
- Sow seeds of perennial flowers and collect seeds of others to sow in autumn or spring. Label them and store them in a fridge.
- Take cuttings of tender plants such as geraniums, marguerites, fuchsias, and argyranthemums to carry over winter.
- Start sowing seeds in a heated propagator for a greater variety of bedding plants.
Garden Preparation and Maintenance
- Prepare new borders for flowers or shrubs by carrying out the same preparation as for trees.
- Lift, divide, and re-plant herbaceous perennials during good weather.
- Check stored dahlias or gladioli for drying out or greenfly attacks, and take appropriate measures to revive and protect them.
- Keep a check for slug damage on over-wintered plants of sweet peas, especially in a greenhouse or tunnel.
Assessment and Tidying
- Assess new locations for spring bulbs as they appear in the shops.
- Tidy up messy perennial flowers, leaving good stems and seedheads, such as agapanthus, fennel, lysimachia, dierama, phlomis, and monarda, for autumn and winter display.
- Extend the life of bedding and container annuals by providing liquid feeding and regular watering.
By following these tips for caring for flowers and beds in August, you can maintain the vibrancy and health of your garden. Proper weeding, watering, planting, propagation, and garden maintenance are essential for a thriving garden throughout the season.
