Jobs to do in August

Flower/Plants

• Keep camellias well watered to avoid flower buds dropping off next spring due to drought
• Prune wisteria; shorten long side shoots back to five or six leaves
• Deadhead roses; unless they produce hips
• Trim lavender after flowering to stop it going woody
• Plant bulbs: nerines, autumn crocuses, and autumn daffodils

Fruit/Vegetables

• Continue to sow outside: lettuces, endives, kohl rabi, spring cabbages, French and runner beans, and beetroots
• Peg down strawberry runners into the soil or pots of compost for more plants
• Ensure crops are all well watered during hot weather
• Prune old fruited stems of cane fruits down to soil level
• Spray potato foliage with a copper fungicide to avoid blight

Greenhouse

• Treat container plants with nematodes if vine weevil damage is visible
• Continue taking cuttings from tender plants
• Keep the greenhouse well ventilated
• Pinch out any side shoots on tomato plants and tie in stems as they grow
• Feed plants regularly with a liquid feed

General

• Order flower bulbs for autumn planting
• Prune early flowering shrubs
• Trim lawns and edges regularly
• Deadhead border plants after flowering
• Hoe regularly to avoid weeds

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Our Plant of the Month Papaver orientale or Oriental Poppy produces delicate flowers from May to July above bristly, grey-green leaves. The flower colours vary from white, through pink to red. They are a fast-growing plant and easy to grow, the pale papery flowers contrast especially well with purple foliage plants such as Heuchera.