Barbara Stockitt's Guide to Classic Gardening...

August

Continue to water your BUXUS (box) in containers and be sure to liquid feed with seawood fertilizer.  Having saucers under the pots enables the plants to take up water when it needs it.  The saucers should of course be removed in winter.  TAXUS (yew) plants in containers need the same treatment.

With the HERBACEOUS plants continue weeding, watering and dead-heading.

In the ROSE beds continue with dead heading and with the climbers tie in the new shoots.  Watch out for black spot particularly in dry weather.  It will thrive on roses that are under-nourished.  Spray the diseased plants and apply foliage feed.  Get your rose order ready now and have it in by the end of the month.  Try to select roses which are not prone to disease.  Ask your supplier for advice on this.

If you are planning a new HEDGE now it is the time to chose your plants.  If you buy bare root for Autumn planting you will have a greater range of varieties to chose from.  Order more than you need, so that if any should fail, you will have some replacements.  This is the time to cut your YEW HEDGES.  For a mature hedge this is the only time you will need to cut.  Do not cut the sides in a perpendicular way, but let the sides taper upwards.  This is beneficial in snowy weather since the weight of the snow is not too great.

Start thinking about AUTUMN BULBS.  Although there are not many to chose from, they do come at a time when there is not much in flower.  Colchicum and Cyclamen flower well.  There are several varieties of Autumn crocus.  August is the month to plant Muscari.

In the VEGETABLE GARDEN draw a little soil up around the stems of winter greens and this will help to stabilize them during the winter winds.

This is the time for harvesting FRUIT.  To test whether an apple is ready, hold the apple gently in your hand and give it a slight twist and it should leave the spur.  Eat apples within a few days of picking because they will not keep.  Pick pears while they are still firm.  They will mellow better off the tree. Do not leave them too long before eating.

Keep mowing your LAWNS, varying the blade heights as necessary.  A final Summer feed can be applied until the middle of the month.  Do not apply nitrogenous feed after the middle of the month.