End of Summer Gardening Checklist: What to do in August

August marks the tail end of summer, and in the UK, that means unpredictable weather is on the horizon. Whether you're soaking up the sun or dodging an unexpected shower, it’s essential to keep a close watch on your garden. For many, August is also a prime time for holidays, making it tricky to maintain your garden's health in your absence. If you don’t have a green-thumbed neighbour to rely on, don’t worry—a little forward planning can go a long way in ensuring your plants thrive while you're away.

In this post, we’ve gathered essential tips and tricks to help your garden flourish throughout August. From growing Pak Choi to pruning fruit trees and propagating Salvias, we’ve got you covered. Plus, don’t forget to download our handy Monthly Gardening Checklist to stay organised and keep your garden in top shape as summer winds down!

Vegetable Garden

Growing Pak Choi / Bok Choy

If you enjoy stir-fries, consider planting Pak Choi this month. This member of the cabbage family, also known as Bok Choy, features crunchy stems and glossy green leaves, adding a nutrient-rich, crisp texture to meals. Ready to harvest in just 30 days for tender leaves and within 50-70 days for the whole plant, pak choi is a fast-growing, non-heading variety, meaning its leaves spread outward from the base.

Sowing and Planting

Pak Choi thrives in cooler temperatures, ideally between 12°C and 24°C. Plant in mid-to-late spring for early summer harvests, or late summer for autumn crops. Ensure the soil is moist and enriched with organic fertiliser. Consistent moisture is key, but avoid oversaturation to prevent rot. For small spaces, consider miniature varieties suited for square-foot gardens or containers. When direct-seeding, space seeds 5 to 8 cm apart, thinning them as they grow according to the variety’s needs.

Harvesting

You can harvest the entire plant by cutting at the base or pick individual outer stems to allow continued growth. If the plant starts to bolt (form flower buds), harvest immediately before it becomes tough. For a bolting-resistant variety, try Pak Choi Mei Qing Choi, known for its nutty flavour and resilience.

Carrots

Spring-sown carrots should be ready to harvest now, typically maturing between 12 and 16 weeks after sowing. When harvesting, aim for roots that are flavourful rather than just large, as bigger isn’t always better when it comes to taste. The final size can vary depending on the variety, so be sure to check your seed packets for the ideal size to expect.

Harvesting Carrots

Your seed packet should include a maturation date—mark this on your calendar for easy reference. To check your carrots' progress, gently uproot one or two. If they’re a good size and come out of the soil easily, it’s time to harvest the rest. Look for roots with a rich, vibrant colour, as this indicates they’re ready to enjoy.

Leaving carrots in the ground too long can cause them to become tough, fibrous, and even split, reducing their shelf life. Smaller carrots may start sprouting secondary roots. Additionally, carrots exposed to the sun may develop a green hue and a bitter flavour due to chlorophyll—though still edible, they’re less tasty. To prevent this, gently mound soil around any carrots that are peeking above ground, but be careful not to bury the foliage.

Storing Carrots

Once harvested, clean off any soil and discard carrots with signs of rot or defects. After removing the leaves—which can be used to make pesto or chimichurri—store the carrots in a box of damp sand to keep them from drying out. This method can preserve them for up to four months. For longer storage, consider cutting, blanching, and freezing your carrots to maintain their freshness.

Seasonal Salad

August is the perfect time to plan ahead and start planting winter salad varieties. With a bit of protection from the elements, these hardy greens will thrive throughout the colder months. Since young plants must take root in warm soil, August is the ideal time to get started. There are plenty of options to choose from—'Winter Imperial' is a fantastic early choice. If you prefer a later start, the 'Brighton' variety is perfect for a December harvest.

Sowing Salad Leaves

Leafy vegetables can be grown in a polytunnel or greenhouse, either in borders or containers. For outdoor planting, consider protecting your lettuce from pests by using cloches or growing vertically on a wall or shed side. When choosing a spot for winter lettuce, look for an area that receives partial sunlight, has good drainage, and is sheltered from the wind. If planting outdoors, sow the seeds in rows with 10-15 cm between them. Be gentle with watering at first, as the seeds are delicate, and continue to water regularly throughout the growing season to keep the soil from drying out.

Remember, lettuce seeds won’t sprout in temperatures above 25°C, so be mindful of the weather when planting. Once your seedlings have grown, thin them out to give each plant the space it needs—some varieties need about 15 cm, while others may require up to 30 cm. If space is tight, no need to worry - you can enjoy the extra young plants as a sweet and crunchy addition to your salads.

Top Tip: Reuse the soil from your tomato plants to grow salad leaves. Lettuce and other leaf crops will still thrive in soil with minimal nutrients, making it easy and efficient to switch from tomatoes to lettuce seedlings without changing the compost.

Caring for Fruit Trees

August is the perfect time to focus on maintaining trained fruit trees like cordon apples or espaliers. Guiding their growth vertically or horizontally not only keeps them healthy but also enhances their appearance in your landscape. Proper pruning is key—it can improve the look of almost any tree or shrub, but incorrect pruning can cause damage or reduce the plant’s overall appeal. If you’re unsure, it’s often better to skip pruning than to do it incorrectly. Remember, pruning is all about removing or reducing parts of the plant that are unnecessary or ineffective, allowing the tree to focus its energy on healthy growth.

How To Prune Your Fruit Trees

Before you start, make sure your pruning tools are clean and sharp to avoid tearing the bark, especially when removing larger branches.

• Remove unhealthy branches: Start by cutting away any dying, rotten, or diseased branches. Make your cuts at the point of origin or back to a strong lateral branch or shoot. Often, this creates enough space for new growth, so additional pruning might not be necessary.
• Prune lateral growth: Trim horizontal branches that grow beyond their supports to maintain the tree’s shape. This also helps ensure good air circulation, which is crucial for the tree’s health. Cut back shoots that exceed their space, keeping the tree tidy and well-structured.
• Secure new shoots: Regularly inspect your tree and secure new shoots using soft ties or gardening tape. This supports the tree's structure, but be sure to leave the last 15-30 cm of new shoots untied to encourage quicker lateral growth.

Harvesting Early Apples

August brings the first taste of your early apple varieties. To check if they’re ready, gently lift the fruit from the tree—if it comes off easily, it’s time to harvest. Keep in mind that early varieties often don’t keep well, so it’s best to enjoy them fresh for the sweetest flavour. If you find yourself with an abundant harvest, consider making a delicious chutney or apple purée to savour the season’s bounty. Later apple varieties typically store better, giving you a longer window to enjoy them.

The Flower Garden

August is a stunning month for your garden, with flowers in full bloom and the anticipation of next year’s growth as seeds begin to form. As you prepare to harvest the last of the summer blooms, remember to keep your containers well-fed and watered, especially during those hot days. Be sure to open the vents and doors of your greenhouse to release excess heat and shade any seedlings from direct sunlight to prevent scorching. Now is also the perfect time to collect seed pods from plants for reseeding and to continue picking flowers to encourage more blooms.

Deadhead Flowers

Deadheading is essential to keep your garden vibrant well into autumn. Focus on dahlias, roses, summer perennials, and annual bedding plants to prevent them from going to seed and to promote continued blooming.

When you notice a flower beginning to fade or droop, grab a pair of sharp, clean shears and make a diagonal cut just above the first set of healthy leaves. This technique not only tidies up the plant but also encourages it to channel energy into producing new growth. By removing spent blooms and preventing seed head formation, you also reduce the risk of disease and pests that target weakened or decaying plant tissue. However, avoid deadheading right after rainfall or during extreme weather, as plants are most fragile during these times.

Propagate Salvias

Salvias, or ornamental sages, are a vibrant addition to any summer garden and offer great opportunities for propagation in August. Propagating now ensures you have backups ready in case your current plants don’t survive the winter frost.

• To start, choose thick, young, non-flowering shoots. Cut just above a set of buds to encourage shoot growth, and remove the lower leaves, leaving only one set at the top. Make your base cut 2-3 mm below a leaf joint, ensuring another joint remains toward the tip.
• If you’re not ready to pot your cuttings immediately, store them in a plastic bag with a little water to keep them moist and cool. When you’re ready, use a dibber to plant the cuttings around the edge of a pot filled with a mix of multi-purpose compost and perlite for better aeration.
• To ensure successful rooting, maintain high humidity by using a propagator or covering the pot with a plastic bag. Place the pot in a bright spot, but avoid direct sunlight, and ensure regular aeration to prevent rot.

Lawn Care

Maintaining a vibrant, healthy lawn in August is essential for keeping your outdoor space looking its best. With a few simple steps, you can ensure your lawn stays lush and green, even during the dry spells and unpredictable weather of late summer.

Mowing and Mulching

Regular mowing is key to a well-groomed lawn. Continue to mow frequently, but remember to adjust your mower to a higher setting, just as you did in July. This slightly longer cut helps protect the grass from the heat, reducing stress if August weather is drier. After mowing, leave the grass clippings on the lawn to act as natural mulch. These clippings break down and return essential nutrients to the soil, promoting healthy, thick growth.

It’s important to adapt your routine to the UK’s unpredictable weather. Avoid mowing when the grass is wet, as this can lead to soil compaction and cause the grass to clump inside your mower. Always clean your mower thoroughly after each use to prevent build-up and maintain its performance. If your mower blades aren't delivering a clean cut, it might be time to sharpen them, especially if they’ve had a tough summer.

Managing Weather Challenges

During dry spells, you might notice your grass turning brown and growth slowing down. Don’t worry—this is normal. The roots of a well-established lawn remain alive, and the grass will bounce back to green once the rains return.

August often brings more activity to your garden, with school holidays and warm weather inviting people outdoors. Increased foot traffic and the use of garden furniture can compact the soil, particularly in high-traffic areas. To promote healthy growth, even in these busy spots, take time to aerate the soil. Aeration allows air, water, and nutrients to penetrate the grass roots, helping your lawn stay strong and resilient.

Wrapping Up The Summer

As the summer winds down, the weather in the UK can be quite unpredictable. August often cools down towards the end of the month, bringing more frequent rainy days—but of course, every year has its own surprises. That’s why it’s important to keep your sunhat and wellies at the ready, and stay tuned to the weather forecast.

If you’re planning to be away this August, consider asking a friend or neighbour to check on your garden. Alternatively, installing an automatic irrigation system can ensure your plants get the water they need while you're away. This way, you can make the most of the last month of summer, knowing your garden is in good hands. So take the time to relax, enjoy the beauty of your garden, and savour those precious moments with your loved ones. Happy gardening!