GARDEN CALENDAR - AUGUST

| January | February | March | April | May | June | July  | August | September | October | November | December  | 


THE FLOWER GARDEN 



  • Dahlia and Begonia tubers, and Gladioli bulbs, are all in store this month - plant now for a riot of summer colour
  • Begonias are one of the easiest summer flowers to grow. They are bright and cheerful and come in a range of colours and types to suit every situation. They are easy to grow and will give months of summer colour
  • Lift and split Summer flowering perennial colour
  • Plants which have overwintered in the ground can now be lifted and split, tidied up and replanted into freshly dug soil.
  • Add in compost and sheep pellets and a handful of flowering slow release fertiliser.
  • Roses. If you haven't completed your rose pruning it is not too late but try to have it done as soon as possible this month.
  • It is a good time to plant roses as it gives them time to settle and put on root and leaf growth before spring and summer flowering.
  • Roses are now as popular as ever and are unsurpassed for summer colour and fragrance. There is a rose to suit every situation - groundcover, patio pots, covering walls and trellis, adding colour to the border year after year
  • Now is a good time to prepare ground for sowing new lawns in September. Spray out any perennial weeds with Roundup, dig over and level ground, removing stones, roots, and other debris.
  • Camellias that have finished flowering can be pruned back and fed with Tui Acid Plant Food
  • A protective Copper based spray can be applied to deciduous trees and roses to reduce risk of fungal diseases over spring and summer months.
  • Good soil preparation is the key this month, prior to spring planting.
  • Dig soil over well, breaking down any clods.
  • Add in lots of good organic compost.
  • A dressing of lime can also be added now, especially in vegetable gardens. This gives the lime time to react before adding other fertilisers in the spring.
  • Remember not to apply lime around plants which like 'acid' soil conditions - Camellias, Azaleas, Rhododendrons, Ericas."

 

 

THE EDIBLE GARDEN 



  • With spring just around the corner now is the time to start preparing the soil for planting out summer vegetables and fruits
  • Dig soil over and apply generous quantities of good organic compost.
  • Now is a good time to apply garden lime - refer to packaging for application rates
  • Start sowing seeds in trays for spring planting - a light weight portable greenhouse is perfect for this
  • Seed potatoes can be planted this month
  • Potatoes grow best in a warm sunny position
  • They prefer a free draining soil with lots of organic matter
  • Make sure seed potatoes have a lot of good sprouts before planting
  • Rhubarb - Nothing beats the taste of home grown rhubarb with your muesli or weet-bix for breakfast! Plant Rhubarb now, dig in lost of compost and sheep pellets.
  • Rhubarb is planted by 'Crowns' which are available this month
  • Rhubarb plants are heavy feeders so dig in plenty of top quality compost at planting time and follow up with general garden fertiliser at regular intervals through the year.
  • Citrus trees can be planted now in milder climates
  • Citrus are the most popular fruit tree for the home garden
  • They like a warm, sunny position, and a free draining soil
  • Feed is spring and autumn with a fruit tree and citrus fertiliser and water well in drier months
  • Strawberries - Now's the time to be planting strawberries.
  • Strawberries like good fertile soil so dig in lots of top quality compost before planting. A handful of Blood and Bone in the planting hole and a top dressing of general fertiliser will get them off to a flying start.
  • Remember to water in well after planting.
  • Strawberries look great in strawberry pots on the deck - easy picking in the summer!
  • Vege Garden - still lots to do in the vegetable garden this month.
    Spinach, cabbage, winter lettuce, bok choy, should all be part of your winter garden.
  • Broad beans are a great winter garden crop - plant seeds now into prepared soil. Provide some support as they do get reasonably tall (use twigs and small branches from your pruning in the garden).
  • Broad beans are easy care and you will have delicious young beans in October / November.
  • Shallots - sweeter than garlic, milder than onions. Great in stews and casseroles, or roasted whole. Shallots are easy to grow and take up little space in the garden