NOW that we’re unfortunately in the final few weeks of summer, many Brits think it’s time to stop worrying about glamming up the garden.
However, that couldn’t be further from the truth – and there are still plenty of tasks to be completed.
August is the perfect time to sow five speedy plants[/caption]
As well as planting strawberries and collecting seeds from existing plants, the month of August is also the perfect time to sow five speedy plants.
These gorgeous picks are perfect for filling the gaps in your garden with colourful blooms that will last until winter.
Cosmos
Cosmos also attracts bees, butterflies, and birds to your garden – all vital to the ecosystem[/caption]
Cosmos are heat-loving, flowering annuals that are easy to grow by sprinkling some seeds in the garden – and green-fingered Brits can do it right after any danger of frost has passed.
These gorgeous cottage garden flowers reach full maturity in about two months.
While they can be a little slower to germinate, Cosmos then blooms quickly and continues to flower through autumn.
Not only these flowers form a cloud of summer until winter, Cosmos also attracts bees, butterflies, and birds to your garden – all vital to the ecosystem.
Cosmos grows easily in beds and makes great cut flowers to gift or arrange a bouquet for your vase.
The plants can handle drought, poor soil conditions, and general neglect – and they even self-sow.
This is a truly low-maintenance plant – perfect if you’re new to gardening or are often away from home.
Zinnias
Setting plants at around 1ft to 1.5ft apart is about average if growing in a block.[/caption]
The late summer lollipops of the garden – Zinnias are a must-have in your flower patch that will add a pop of colour until the colder months.
The experts at RHS state that pH of the soil isn’t critical but zinnias like shelter and warmth, sunshine and moisture to grow prolifically.
The season will also have a bearing on success – so the better the summer’s been, the happier your colourful blooms will be.
Check the seed packets for spacing, but setting plants at around 1ft to 1.5ft apart is about average if growing in a block.
Green-fingered Brits can sow Zinnia outdoors directly into the place where they are to grow – but this is only really worth doing in reliably warm locations and on light soils, the experts emphasised.
Sweet peas
As they thrive best in moisture-retentive soil, they are also well adapted to the UK climate[/caption]
If you’re new to the joys of gardening and are wondering what kind of flowers to start with, a great beginner plant can be sweet peas.
Because these colourful flowers can be grown in small pots from seeds, Sweet peas are perfect for those who don’t have loads of space to work with.
As they thrive best in moisture-retentive soil, they are also well adapted to the UK climate.
Gardening whizz Monty Don wrote in his blog: ”Sweet peas grow best in rich soil with plenty of moisture and in cool – but not cold – conditions, so the more you can enrich the soil with lots of compost or manure before planting, the better they will grow.
”I like to grow mine up bean sticks arranged as a wigwam but any support will do from bamboo canes to chicken wire.”
To ensure you grow strong plants, Monty recommended that if you buy a pot with a lot of seeds to instead “divide each pot into two or three.”
He continued: “Plant these sections at the base of each support so they have less competition and you should end up with more flowers.”
August gardening jobs
The Sun’s Gardening Editor, Veronica Lorraine, has shared the 10 gardening jobs to take on during the last month of summer – and the all important ones to remember if you’re going on holiday.
1. Watering plants on holiday
Think about how you’re going to water your plants if you’re going away. Irrigation systems are stupidly expensive – so ask a friend or neighbour to pop over.
2. Remember your houseplants!
For houseplants use the upside down bottle trick – where you fill a wine bottle and then tip it upside down, spout down, and stick it into the pot – the water should seep out slowly. For smaller plants you can use a thick piece of cord running from a glass of water, into the soil – so it slowly takes it up over time. Be sensible with your watering – vistit www.mains2rains.co.uk for some tips on how to conserve water in August. But use as much grey water – ie washing up water – as you can to save such a valuable resource.
3. Dig for potatoes
Second early potatoes should be ready to dig up.
4. Carry on deadheading
Use either secateurs or just pinch off the blooms with your finger and thumb. With roses, make sure you’re dead heading back to a set of five leaves, giving you the best chance of more blooms.
5. Plant strawberries
You can actually plant strawberries in late august – which will be ready next year. For the ones you already have – if they’ve got runners springing off them – try and pot them up to make more strawberries for free.
6. Prune lavenders
In late August once they’ve finished flowering cut back your lavender – always prune them back to the woody stems – but make sure you can still see some little buds.
7. Collect seeds
A lot of plants will start going to seed now – so it’s the perfect time to walk around collecting them to get free plants for next year – just make sure you label the envelopes.
8. Sow hardy annuals
Towards the end of the month, sow hardy annuals in order for them to flower next year. Try and choose sheltered spots for them.
9. Cut back roses
Prune back rambling roses and make sure they are all tied in. And in late August give your roses their last feed.
10. Keep on top of watering hanging baskets
It’s really important to keep hanging baskets hydrated – they are the first and the worst for drying out.
Nasturtium
A nasturtium can brighten up any area[/caption]
Nasturtium plants produce bright orange, red or yellow flowers – perfect for a colourful garden.
This flower grows quickly and thrives in cooler weather.
Better Homes & Gardens said: ”Nasturtiums are easy to grow and work well in garden beds and containers.
”They perform well as edging plants or as fillers among perennials.
”Since they have some pest-deterrent properties among cabbage, broccoli, and cauliflower plants, nasturtiums are also welcome plants in the vegetable garden.”
Marigolds
Calendula flowers can also be used as a natural aromatherapy[/caption]
A hardy choice with a seed that’s quick to flower and often blooms into October.
They are bright, easy to manage, and are perfect for a day of gardening with your little ones thanks to the large seeds. These can be sown directly into planters and tend to germinate quickly.
You should plant these at least eight weeks before the first autumn frost for the best results.
Pot marigolds are known to grow quickly and are not fussy about the soil. They also have the potential to flower until autumn if the weather stays mild.
These flowers also attract pollinators and they even have petals that are edible.