Flower Garden in August - Hints and Tips

The flower garden in August can be a wonderful place to sit and of course to work. Towards the end of the month many of our wonderful summer perennials and annuals are starting to look a little tired and we await the late flowering into autumn varieties.

Hardy Geraniums

What wonderful value hardy geraniums provide, not to be confused with the tender pelargoniums. They come in various sizes from neat ground hugging to large spreading mounds. Some have a short flowering period where others flower for weeks.

They can become a bit untidy with more out of control leaf than flowers. Cut back the leaves which will encourage a new flush of growth.

Deadheading

Continue with a good regime of deadheading which will help to prolong the flowering period. Early in the season the bright new flushes of flowers encourage us to remove spent flower heads but as the season progresses it is so easy to walk by when we have other things to do.

My walk around the garden each evening is the time when I stop to deadhead the dahlias. You see one, then another and as you turn away yet another! Well worth the trouble as it is with such things as roses, penstemon, pelargoniums and petunias.

Climbing and Rambling Roses

If you have climbing and rambling roses that do not repeat flower or produce good hips, once the flowers have finished prune them back ready for next years new flush of blooms.

Iris

Continue to propagate irises by dividing the rhizomes. Cut back some of the top growth to help to stop them rocking in the wind before they have their toes in. Remember they like the rhizome above ground if not done last month.

Dahlias

Earwigs can continue to be a problem chewing away at the petals of dahlias. The old and well tested method of an upturned plant pot on a cane filled with straw and paper is a good method of trapping. Shake out in the morning and dispose of them as you wish.

Pinks and Carnations

We increase our Pinks and Carnations by "pipes" pulled from the plants and brought on as cuttings but these favourite plants of many can also be propagated by layering.

Pelargoniums

Take cuttings of Pelargonium and bring them on in a cool greenhouse, conservatory or house windowsill. There is no need to use rooting hormone but as with all propagation by cuttings, take care with hygiene.

Seeds

Gather seeds from plants that you have not deadheaded one the seed pods look ripe. Remember to label envelopes or bags used for storage and also remember that specially bred hybrids will not come true from seed but need vegetative propagation.

Baskets and Containers

Deadhead and keep up a good watering regime to keep baskets and containers going.

Continue to feed hanging baskets, window boxes and containers with a liquid tomato food each week to encourage them to keep blooming into the early autumn.

They deserve that little bit of extra care now having worked hard to give us a good summer display.

Sweet Peas

Keep picking and do not let them set seed or the fun will be over. Feed with a liquid seaweed food or diluted tomato fertiliser.

Rockery and Alpines

I am sure that like me you find certain rockery plants develop bare centres which do not look very attractive.

They can be tidied up by feeding gritty compost into the bare patches which will encourage new growth as well as improving their appearance.

Rock garden plants, such as Helianthemum, Aubrietia and Dianthus can be propagated from cuttings at this time of year.

Plant Supports

Take note of any perennials that need staking next summer that you may have missed this year. Putting supports in place early will stop that trussed up look and appear more natural.

Lavender

Clip Lavender plants after flowering to help to keep them compact. I can think of worse jobs, unless you are one who does not like the scent of lavender.

Grasses

It is tempting to cut off the flower heads of ornamental grasses but they are worth leaving on to provide interest in the garden through the winter months, especially if covered in frost.

Bulbs

Think ahead and look through catalogues to choose and order your spring flowering bulbs.

Not found what you are looking for?

Custom Search