August in the Garden: Alex's Jobs, New Arrivals & Plants of the Month

August in the Garden: Alex's Jobs, New Arrivals & Plants of the Month

August is here, and while the garden may be starting to turn towards autumn, there's still plenty to keep you busy and plenty to enjoy. We've got Alex's jobs for the month, a couple of new arrivals worth planning ahead for, and not one but two plants of the month to discover.

Alex's Gardening Jobs for August

Here's what Alex recommends getting done in the garden this month.

  • Regularly feed tomato plants with a tomato feed and keep watering them consistently.
  • Cut down or mow wildflower meadows to help scatter seeds for next year.
  • Using hedge shears, give hedges their last trim of the season. Remember to check for nesting birds first.
  • Leave out water and hedgehog food to help fatten up hoglets before they hibernate in autumn.
  • Keep hanging baskets and containers looking good by regularly deadheading, watering, and feeding them.
  • Use netting or fleece to protect blackberries and other fruits from birds.
  • Pinch out the tops of tomatoes so all their energy goes into producing the fruits that are ripening.
  • Use mulch around the base of shrubs to help retain moisture.

Alex's Top Tip for August

"If you've got hedgehogs visiting your garden, now's the time to start helping them. Leaving out water and a little hedgehog food through August makes a real difference to their chances come hibernation."

New In: Seed Potatoes

For those who like to plan ahead, we've now got seed potatoes in stock. This range can be planted over the course of August and be ready to harvest in time for your Christmas plate.

Potatoes don't need a big plot either. If you're short on space, they grow just as well in potato bags. Keep them well watered, especially through August and September, and feed with a general purpose liquid feed.

Keep an eye out too, our spring flowering bulbs will be arriving very soon, ready for you to get ahead on next year's displays.

Houseplant of the Month: Ficus Benjaminac chosen by Jenny & Oli

Also known as the weeping fig for its graceful arching stems, the Ficus benjamina brings elegant height and movement to any room with its gently arching stems and glossy leaves. It's air purifying too, making it a beautiful and practical addition to any shelf, windowsill, or floor space. Please note it is not pet friendly.

Light: Happiest in bright indirect light, avoid full sun to prevent leaf scorch.

Temperature: It's important to place your Ficus benjamina somewhere with a warm, steady temperature. Keep it away from draughts from windows or doors and away from radiators, as fluctuating temperatures can cause the leaves to drop. Between 16-24 degrees is perfect, and never lower than 13 degrees.

Watering: Keep the soil slightly moist, water when the top couple of inches of soil feel dry and let it drain thoroughly. Underwatering or overwatering can lead to leaf drop.

Height: Ficus benjamina can eventually reach up to around 2 metres, although they're considered slow to moderate growers. They're easy to prune if they become too large, but it's important to wear gloves as they produce a latex sap that can be an irritant to the skin.

Plant of the Month: Rudbeckia

As summer begins to fade, Rudbeckias come into their own, filling borders with bold golden-yellow blooms and rich, dark centres that shine from late summer well into autumn. They're also loved by bees and butterflies, making them a fantastic choice for wildlife-friendly gardens.

Easy to grow in a sunny spot with well-drained soil, Rudbeckias flower for weeks, making them ideal for borders, prairie-style planting and containers. They also make excellent cut flowers, bringing their warm colours indoors.

Perfect partners: Combine Rudbeckias with ornamental grasses, asters, echinaceas, salvias and verbenas for a colourful, wildlife-friendly display that lasts well into autumn.

Kerstin's Top Tip: Water regularly during the first growing season and dry spells, and mulch in spring to retain moisture. Deadhead to encourage more blooms, or leave the seed heads in autumn for winter interest and food for birds. Cut back old stems in late winter as new growth begins.

Come and find us in Ilkley, we'd love to help you make the most of your August garden.

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