August – Late Summer in the UK Garden

August brings a sense of abundance and maturity to the UK garden. The days are still long and warm, but there’s a subtle shift as plants begin to slow their growth and prepare for autumn. This is a month for harvesting, deadheading, and planning ahead — all while enjoying your garden’s late-summer beauty.

Planting and Sowing

While peak planting has passed, August still offers opportunities to keep your garden productive and vibrant:

• like radishes, rocket, lettuce, and spinach for late-season harvests.
  
• hardy annuals (like cornflowers or calendula) from seed for earlier blooms next spring.
  
• autumn brassicas and leeks if you’ve got seedlings ready.
  
• late-summer bedding like asters, salvias, or chrysanthemums.
  

Keep watering young and newly planted crops — especially in hot, dry spells.

Soil Care and Mulching

If summer has been dry, your soil will benefit from a moisture-retentive mulch. Add organic matter around perennials, vegetables, and fruit bushes to:

• Hoe lightly to prevent weed seedlings establishing, and water deeply where needed.

Supporting and Deadheading

• Stake or tie in plants like dahlias, sunflowers, and other late-flowering perennials to prevent them from flopping
• Deadhead faded blooms regularly to encourage more flowers and keep the garden looking neat
• Climbers, clematis and runner beans may also need gentle tying or guiding as they continue to grow
  

Lawn Care

August lawns can suffer from heat stress.

• Raise your mower blades slightly to avoid cutting the grass too short
• Water deeply but less often to encourage strong root growth
  
• Apply a if your lawn looks tired or patchy — this helps maintain colour and strength during dry spells
  

Now’s also a good time to start planning any autumn lawn repairs or reseeding.

Fruit and Vegetable Maintenance

Harvesting is in full swing:

• apples, plums, blackberries, and figs to protect from birds
  
• feeding tomatoes, courgettes, and chillies with a high-potash fertiliser
  
• tomato tips after 5–6 trusses to focus energy on ripening especially after rain or humid spells
  

In the greenhouse, maintain airflow and stay consistent with watering.

Pests and Diseases

Pest pressure can spike in warm August weather:

• aphids, whitefly, spider mites, and caterpillars
  
• powdery mildew on squash and courgettes
  
• remain active in shady, damp spots
  

Regular observation is key — catch problems early before they spread.

Garden Structures and Upkeep

Take time to check over your garden’s structure and tools:

• stakes, trellises, and supports
  
• top-up of compost and feed
  
• pots, garden furniture, and tools to prepare for autumn
  

Planning Ahead

As summer winds down, August is the perfect time to reflect and plan:

• gaps in flowering or plants you’d like more of
  
• ordering spring bulbs and planting autumn perennials
  
• seed saving from your favourite annuals
  

Final Thoughts

August is a golden, generous month in the garden — one for both reaping the rewards of the season and preparing for what’s next. Whether you’re harvesting produce, enjoying an evening on the lawn, or quietly deadheading as the sun sets, take time to appreciate the life and colour around you.

Happy gardening!