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MONTHLY GARDENING TIPS - AUGUST...

GENERAL

Water planters, containers, window boxes and hanging baskets as well as any flowers and vegetables in the open that are suffering from dryness

Regular weeding is still very important. Keep the hoe moving so that seedling weeds do not have an opportunity to become established.

Control pests and diseases with an organic solution wherever possible. Where this is not available select multipurpose or combined pesticides to reduce the number of times necessary to spray

This is the last month during which the biological control of slugs is effective. Slug traps and slug pellets are the o­nly remedy from late this month until the winter

Cut hedges regularly as required

LAWN

Continue to mow the lawn regularly and during dry spells water it to keep it fresh and green. Keep the edges well trimmed

If a new lawn is contemplated for the autumn, now is the time to get soil preparations under way

POND

Towards the end of the month collect some winter buds or turions of the arrowhead to over-winter indoors. The arrowhead is hardy, but its winter bulb-like storage organs are often eaten by vermin

Tidy up the poolside removing any fading blossoms or foliage

FLOWERS

The first spring flowering bulbs for forcing arrive in garden centres this month. Pot up paperwhite narcissus and prepared hyacinths and tulips in bulb fibre and place them in a cool place where they can remain for ten to twelve weeks

Continue to dead head herbaceous and bedding plants along with decorative shrubs as their blossoms fade. This tidies up the plants and prevents them from putting their resources into seed production and often results in a second flush of blossom

Plant Madonna lilies in an open free-draining soil

Remove tired annuals like sweet peas as they begin to fade and prepare the soil for autumn planting

VEGETABLES

Begin to harvest main crop vegetables such as carrots, potatoes and o­nions. Lift them and dry them off naturally before rubbing off dried soil and storing

Any open ground that can remain vacant until the spring can be sown with a green manure crop such as mustard

Sow seeds of winter radish, perpetual spinach and winter spinach

Earth up and blanch celery.

FRUIT

Cut back raspberry canes that have finished fruiting. They are of no further use

The past summer's fruiting wood of blackcurrants should be removed completely

Provide support for any heavily laden branches of plums

Remove strawberry runners from plants. Do not use them to create a new bed as they are likely to be diseased. Always start with certified virus-free stock

GREENHOUSE

Many outdoor and indoor plants can be increased from semi-ripe stem cuttings rooted in the greenhouse

Watering, ventilation, shading and "damping down" must be regularly undertaken

Continue to harvest tomatoes, cucumbers, aubergines and peppers. With tomatoes as soon as the fruits start to turn red remove a few of the adjacent lower leaves to assist ripening

Flowering greenhouse plants must be regularly dead headed and any faded leaves removed