Summary of "This month in your garden: August"

Summary of "This Month in Your Garden: August"

Key Lifestyle Tips:

Garden Care While on Holiday:
- Ask a friend or neighbor to pick flowers and vegetables to prevent them from going to seed.
- Focus on cutting annual flowers like cosmos, antirrhinum, and zinnias above a pair of leaves to promote further blooming.
- Keep vegetables like runner beans picked to maintain tenderness.
Watering Routine:
- Water pots every other day during hot weeks; smaller pots may need daily watering.
- Water early in the morning or late in the evening to minimize evaporation.
- Ensure pots are thoroughly soaked; if water runs out immediately, the root ball may not be saturated. Consider submerging pots in water until air bubbles stop rising.
Grass and Wildflower Management:
- Cut longer grass areas in early to mid-August to allow wildflowers to set and drop seeds.
- Leave cuttings for a few days to dry, allowing seeds to drop into the soil before raking them up to prevent increased fertility.
Garden Borders:
- Assess borders for gaps or congestion; consider lifting and dividing plants as needed.
- Take photos to track changes and plan for filling gaps with popular varieties of roses or other plants.
Pest Control:
- Use earwigs as natural pest control by creating a shelter (e.g., an upside-down flower pot filled with straw or newspaper) to attract them.
- Collect earwigs and place them near aphid-infested plants to help manage aphid populations organically.

Speakers: Sarah Raven and Josie Lewis (Head Gardener at Perill).
Website: S Raven.com - a resource for gardening kits, inspiration, and how-to videos.