By now, an abundance of flowers are in bloom, providing a beautiful backdrop for sunbathing and family barbecues.
But the warmer weather means gardens need a lot more love – and, with autumn just around the corner, there is plenty to prepare for.
Adrian Goodall, Thetford Garden Centre’s senior external gardening manager, has shared his five top tips for August.
Adrian Goodall from Thetford Garden Centre has shared his top tips (Image: Thetford Garden Centre)
1. Apply autumn lawn food to your lawn
Adrian said late August is the perfect time to switch to an autumn lawn feed.
“Apply it after mowing and ideally just before a rainfall – or water it in thoroughly if rain isn’t forecast,” he said.
“This helps the lawn recover from summer stress and prepares it for winter.”
2. Regularly deadhead shrubs, perennials and bedding
Deadheading is the process of removing faded or head flowers.
Adrian said this is more than just “tidying” – it also helps to prolong the plant’s life.
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“It stops the plant from putting energy into seed production, encouraging it to produce more blooms,” he explained.
“Focus on plants like roses and dahlias, snipping just above a leaf node or bud.”
Deadheading is a great way to prolong a plant’s life (Image: Thetford Garden Centre)
3. Buy spring-flowering bulbs as soon as they are available in the garden centre
“It’s best to buy them early while there’s a wide selection and before popular or unusual varieties sell out,” the expert said.
“Although you may not plant them just yet, store them in a cool, dry place until you’re ready to plant in the next couple of months.”
4. Harvest apples and pears as soon as they are ready
“Apples and pears usually start to ripen in late August depending on the variety and local conditions,” Adrian said.
“A ripe apple will come off the tree with a gentle twist and will smell sweet and fresh.
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“Pears often need to be picked slightly underripe and ripened indoors.”
He added people should watch for windfalls and be cautious of birds and wasps which will also be on the lookout.
Harvest apples and pears when they ripen in late August (Image: Steve Adams)
5. Purchase young vegetable plants and prepare to overwinter them
Adrian said now is a great time to buy young vegetable plants.
“Look out for plants of hardy crops like spring cabbage, kale and winter lettuce,” he suggested.
“Plant them out in well-prepared soil or pots in a cold frame or unheated greenhouse, where they’ll establish slowly over autumn and give you an early crop next year.”
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