What to do in the garden - August

August is high summer – the perfect time to enjoy the garden you’ve worked so hard for. Sit back with a cool drink and take in the colours and scents around you. Of course, it never takes long to spot a job or two that needs doing! 

A little maintenance now will keep your garden looking beautiful right into autumn. Summer flowers and containers should be at their best, but they still need a little care to keep blooming. Dead-heading faded flowers and giving regular feeds will make all the difference. It might feel like a chore, but it only takes a few minutes and keeps your plants flowering for weeks to come.

This is also the perfect time to look ahead to autumn and spring displays. Sowing pansies and violas now means you’ll have strong plants ready for planting out in the autumn – giving you welcome colour through winter and a head start next year.

Vegetable plots are thriving too. Runner beans are a real highlight this month, especially when picked young and eaten fresh. Remember to keep them well-watered and harvest regularly. If you have more than you can eat, they freeze beautifully for later use. And don’t forget – there’s still time to sow quick-growing salads and lettuces for cutting in late summer and early autumn.