AUGUST - SIT BACK AND ENJOY THE GARDEN! A MONTH OF HOT, THEN THUNDER, THEN WARM & DRY

Hopefully the month is lovely and warm and there is not as much to do, but do keep an eye on wilting plants, especially those grown in the greenhouse.
Plenty of produce will be ready for harvest now - you won’t keep up with runner beans, so freeze the surplus or give away to friends. Beetroot, lettuce, courgettes, tomatoes, cucumbers, aubergenes, peppers, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, onions, potatoes, radish, oriental leaves and chard will all be available now. Keep harvesting to allow cut & come again crops to renew their growth.
In the fruit garden early apples & pears will be almost ready, loganberries, strawberries, raspberries & plums are fruiting their little heads off now.
Keep on top of weeds, it has been a month of rain and sun so weeds have been prolific this summer, they compete for water, space and nutrients so try and find time to keep them under control.
Deadhead annuals and perennials as their flowers fade, roses too. Some perennials can be cut back hard after flowering as this will encourage another flush of flowers to brighten up the fast approaching autumn days.
Cut strawberry runners from the parent plant, this encourages the parent plant to become bushy and stronger for next year. Leaving the runners on will weaken the main plant and reduce the number of fruits.
Watch out for pests & diseases, caterpillars will be devouring all the brassicas, slugs and snails will be happily munching on just about everything and powdery mildew will attack roses, asters and honeysuckle.

Catherine PayneAugust 9, 2019

AUGUST - SIT BACK AND ENJOY THE GARDEN! A MONTH OF HOT, THEN THUNDER, THEN WARM & DRY

Hopefully the month is lovely and warm and there is not as much to do, but do keep an eye on wilting plants, especially those grown in the greenhouse.

In the fruit garden early apples & pears will be almost ready, loganberries, strawberries, raspberries & plums are fruiting their little heads off now.

Keep on top of weeds, it has been a month of rain and sun so weeds have been prolific this summer, they compete for water, space and nutrients so try and find time to keep them under control.

Deadhead annuals and perennials as their flowers fade, roses too. Some perennials can be cut back hard after flowering as this will encourage another flush of flowers to brighten up the fast approaching autumn days.

Cut strawberry runners from the parent plant, this encourages the parent plant to become bushy and stronger for next year. Leaving the runners on will weaken the main plant and reduce the number of fruits.

Watch out for pests & diseases, caterpillars will be devouring all the brassicas, slugs and snails will be happily munching on just about everything and powdery mildew will attack roses, asters and honeysuckle.