The weather in August is often the same as in July: if July is wet August is likely to be wet as well. As in July, westerly winds arriving with a depression often bring long periods of dull weather with much rain. This rain is heaviest in the north and west, especially in hilly areas, and south-east England often escapes the worst of these wet spells.

Warm spells of anticyclone weather in August, and night temperatures are lower. Dewfall can be heavy, thus complicating plant disease problems. However, if the wind swings round to the north or north east, dry, cool, clear nights may occur, and over wide areas of the north temperatures approaching freezing point may occur in sheltered valleys and hollows. In Scotland, August is really an Autumn month. Wind speeds begin to increase at this time of the year; towards the end of the month gales are no unknown and bring a foretaste of autumn even to the south. As in Scotland, August in the North of Ireland is an autumn month.

Hedges should be cut in August, so that any subsequent growth can harden enough to resist the winter cold. All gaps in hedges and fences should be repaired, so that the garden is protected against the autumn gales.

Lawns:

• New lawns - Apply fertiliser to sites for new lawns. A week after this sow grass seeds.
• Established lawns - Inspect, and decide which areas need renovation. Apply weedkillers and fungicides.

Roses

• Remove blooms as they fade. Cease applying fertilisers.
• Spray
• place new orders for november

Hardy Herbaceous Plants

• Deadhead
• Remove supports from plants which have finished floweringand cut off tall, week stems.
• Dig over old beds needing a complete overhall
• Plan arrangement of flowers to be planted in the autumn before ordering them from a nursery.

Dahlias

• Spray against pests
• Inspect plants for symptos of virus infection, and mark for later destruction.
• Feed with liquid fertiliser
• Keep plants tied to stakes as they grow

Chrysanthemums

• Disbud where large blooms are wanted, leaving one bud per stem
• Complete disbudding of outdoor flowering varieties
• Water once a week during dry weather
• Apply fertiliser to flatten buds.
• Keep plants well supported
• Prevent earwigs entering flowers by smearing vaseline around the stems.
• Water pot grown plants and give balanced fertiliser every 10-14 days. Disbud large exhibition and October-flowering varieties.
• Underglass: Water late flowering varieties in greenhouse borders as necessary and reduce to three shoots per plant.

Gladioli

• Cut gladioli for indoor decoration. Try to leave at least four leaves on ech plant. control gladiolus thrips as necessary.

Irises

• Complete planting or replanting of bearded irises.
• Order bulbous irises for autumn planting.
• Examine iris bulbs which have been lifed and burn and which show signs of rotting.
• Spry or dust irises with DDT if caterpillars are present.

Lilies

• Plant L candidum. Order lilies for autumn delivery.
• Spray with Bordeaux mixture botrytis and with systemic insecticide against aphids.
• Gather bulbis from L. tigrinum and L. sargentiae.
• Sow home-saved seed as soon as ripe.
• Under Glass Control aphids with a systemic insecticide. Keep pots adequately watered.

Carnations and Pinks

• Take action against pests and diseases.
• Layer border carnations and sever rooted layers.
• Remove dead flower stems.
• Order border carnations and pinks for autumn planting and prepare beds for them.
• Dig and manure the site. Dress with lime if below PH 6.5. Put dry soil under cover for use in autumn plantings
• Under Glass Renew shading on glass and damp down during hot weather. Watch for pests and diseases. Continue feeding. Cut blooms and disbud flower stems. Continue taking cuttings of pinks and harden-off rooted cuttings.

Sweet Peas

• Mulch, feed and water if necessary.
• Hoe regularly if no mulch has been applied
• Cut blooms regularly to prevent formation of seed.
• Spray monthly with a systemic insecticide against sap sucking insects such as aphids.

Flowers from seed

• Plant outwell grown perennial seedlings in nursery beds.
• Spray monthly with a systemic insecticide
• Remove dead flower heads.

Bulbs

• Complete any outstanding bulb lifting.
• Plant daffodils.
• Complete orders for spring flowering bulbs to be planted this autumn in bowls, for bedding or cutting.

Alpines

• Take cuttings of alpines, such as helianthemum and dianthus which have outgrown their vigour, and insert prepared soil in a frame or under a cloche.
• Spray cuttings daily in hot weather.
• Shade from hot sun and exclude draughts.

Water plants and pools

• Continue to spray against aphids and other pests.
• In sultry weather keep the water oxygenated by addiing fresh water from a hose and spray.
• Cut off large water lily leaves if they hide the flowers.
• Thin heavy growth of oxygenating plants and weed the bog garden.

Greenhouses and Frames

• Repair and Paint the greenhouse in readiness for winter, and overhaul the heating system.
• Store hippeastrums which have now dried off.
• Take cuttings of pelargoniums.
• Remove growing points of tomatoes if the plants are to be followed by chrysanthemums; discontinue feeding and reduce watering.
• Sow cyclamen seeds.
• Insert cuttings of fuchias to be grown as standards.
• Root zonal pelargonium cuttings.
• Raise Campanula isophylla plants from cuttings

Trees and Shrubs

• Continue to take cutting of such plants as callicarpa, cistue and escallonia.
• Under Glass - Insert softwood cuttings of choisya and Polygonum baldschuanicum in pots of sandy soil in a cold frame. Put half ripe cuttings of garrya and wisteria in pots of sandy loam in a propagating frame at 13-16C (55-61F), transferring to a cold frame when rooted. Take stem cuttings of Hydrangea Macrophylla using a shaded, closed frame and giving ventilation as they root.
• Pruning. Prune shrubs that have finished flowering. Cut back established wisterias, taking out the tips of young shoots when they have made three or four leaves.

Rhododendrons and Azaleas

• Propagate rhododendrons by layering. Layers will root sufficiently for planting out separately in two to three years.

Hedges

• Continue to trim fast-growing hedges. Continue hoeing and weeding hedge bottoms.

Heathers

• Take cuttings if more plants are wanted for the heather garden

Fruit

• Pick early apples and pears while under-ripe. Summer prune restrictd forms of apples and pears.
• Pick loganberries, cut out fruited shoots, and tie in new shoots. Spray blackcurrants and cherries.
• Prune fruited shoots of well-trained peaches.
• Support heavily laden plum branches and complete pruning.
• Protect September-fruiting raspberries against birds and wasps.
• Plant rooted strawberry runners.
• Protect ripening grapes with glass.

Vegetables

• Sow seeds of spring cabbages.
• Sow lettuces for over wintering without cloche protection and Brussel sprouts for an early crop next year.
• Less common vegetableas. Pick sweet corn cobs.

Herbs

• Take cuttings of bay, hyssop, lavender, mint, rosemary, rue and sage and insert in sandy soil in open ground, or in pots in a cold frame. Divide chives every fourth year. Collect and dry dill and fennel seeds. Store dried herbs before they have had time to re-absorb moisture

Patios and Town Gardens

• Water containers daily, remove dead flowers, and replace plants past their best.
• Before going on holiday, move containers to a shady spot. Order bulbs for autumn planting.

House Plants

• Continue watering and feeding at the summer rate.
• If yu go on holidaymake arrangements for the plants to be cared for when you are away.