Garden Diary

August Garden Notes

Gardens are brimming with colourful blooms that will attract bees and other pollinating. Dahlias, clematis, buddleias and lavenders should be providing a good show of flowers while runner beans, and french beans are blooming in profusion.

Patio Tubs & Baskets…

Watering is needed for container grown plants every few days, even if we have substantial rainfall. Irrigation tips include you can fit pot saucers under each container to catch any excess liquid. It's then a matter of revisiting the saucer ten minutes after initial application to dispose of any water not drawn up by the compost.

Adding some soluble plant food, into the watering can every 7 days or so is just right to encourage strong flowering and great fruiting.

Beds and Borders…

If we are blessed with warm summer sunshine this August then watering of annual garden flowers may be necessary, especially for those with a limited root run and a tendency to wilt when water is in short supply.

August is a great time to start taking cuttings of all manner of flowers to give you more plants to fill spaces in your flower garden or fresh new plants to replace old, worn-out specimens. Not only do the cuttings root more easily in August they also grow into decent sized plants that are much easier to overwinter on your windowsills.

Lawncare…

Keep the lawn looking good through August usually means weekly mowing and edge trimming if your lawn is to continue to look really good. Remove all trimmings from the surface or people using the area for games, picnics and general romping will be covered in grass cuttings.

If you are going away on holiday mow the grass before you leave but don't be tempted to set the mower extra low as this can damage the grass, likewise on your return remember not to cut off more than 1/3rd in any one cut.

Correct feeding and watering during the summer will keep the grass lush and green and don’t forget to tackle weeds with a selective weed control.

For help with your lawn, Greener Gardens are your local independent BASIS Lawn Assured standard lawncare specialist. The scheme helps ensure a consistent and high standard of practice in the professional lawn care sector.

Grow your Own…

For continuous crops of tomatoes pinch out any side shoots from standard varieties and give them a feed of liquid Tomorite every 10 days. This food is rich in the major nutrients and trace elements to encourage strong plant growth and big tasty tomatoes.

Climbing beans will need a high nitrogen food applied over the leaves and around the roots to ensure they continue producing crops until the first frost.

If you would like help with any lawn or hard surface projects, don’t hesitate to call Greener Gardens on 0115 837 8439. We would be delighted to provide a no obligation quotation.