What to do in the garden in August

In the garden

The heat is still strong and the nights barely cool down. Stick to July’s routine: no planting, shade for young plants and the mulch kept topped up. Use the evenings to think about what you want to change in autumn and make a list: which plants haven’t coped, which areas dry out first and where shade is missing.

Lawn

Mow high and less often. If there are bare patches, don’t reseed yet; wait until September. Where a cool-season lawn is really struggling, think about replacing it in autumn with Bermuda grass, or with ground cover and gravel.

Watering

Water at dawn and keep an eye on potted plants, which may need water every day. At the end of the month the days start to shorten; cut the watering time a little if the soil stays moist. Clean the drip filters, which collect dirt after heavy use.

Pruning

• Tidy up dead flowers and broken branches.
• Lightly trim lavender and other herbs when they finish flowering.
• Palms: wait for the cold months.

Vegetables and fruit trees

Harvest almonds when the outer hull splits open. Keep picking the summer vegetables. At the end of the month you can plant out the cabbages, broccoli and cauliflowers sown in July, and sow carrots and chard. Keep watering citrus and persimmons: the fruit is growing.

Plants of the month

• Succulents, agaves and aloes, at their best in the heat.
• Lantana, gaura and bougainvillea for flowers all season.
• Seeds for autumn and winter vegetables.

Hedra’s tip

Before September, clear the grates, drains and ditches on your plot. The first autumn storms can be heavy, and a drain blocked with leaves and soil causes flooding and washes soil away. Also check that the roof downpipes don’t empty onto beds or tree roots.