Jobs to do in the Garden in August

– Regularly remove faded flowers from perennials, shrubs, bedding plants, and containers to encourage continued blooming. Feed them with Tomato Food. Once early-flowering perennials such as hardy geraniums and delphiniums have finished, cut them back to just above a healthy leaf to encourage a second flush.

– In warm spells, wet the greenhouse floor each morning to increase humidity. Keep doors and vents open during the day for good ventilation, add shade netting if needed, then close everything at night to retain warmth before reopening the following morning.

– Keep watch for pests including aphids, mealybugs, spider mites, psyllids, and scale insects. Treat infestations with a suitable pesticide if required. Placing sticky traps in the greenhouse is an effective way to monitor flying insects and decide whether treatment is necessary.

– Feed late-summer flowering plants such as echinaceas, asters, and gladioli with a potassium-rich fertiliser like Sulphate of Potash to encourage vibrant, long-lasting blooms.

– Check the undersides of cabbage leaves for cabbage white butterfly eggs. Remove any you find by hand, and protect crops with cabbage collars or butterfly netting to prevent further egg laying.

– Once tomatoes, cucumbers, aubergines, peppers, and sweetcorn begin producing fruit, feed them every fortnight with a high-potash fertiliser such as Tomato Food. Pick crops frequently to encourage continued production. Sweetcorn is ready when the kernels release a milky liquid when pressed.

– Protect raspberries, blackberries, loganberries, and other soft fruits from birds and squirrels using bird netting. Netting can also be draped over vulnerable sections of fruit trees where required.

– During August, prune climbing and rambling roses after they have finished flowering, but avoid cutting back repeat-flowering varieties. Once the first flush is over, feed with Fish, Blood & Bone to promote healthy growth and improve resistance to problems such as rust and mildew.

– If powdery mildew appears as a white coating on leaves, remove affected growth promptly and dispose of it. Spray plants with a solution of bicarbonate of soda, water, and a small amount of washing-up liquid, repeating every couple of weeks if necessary.

– Turn your compost heap every month to improve airflow and help materials decompose more quickly. For even faster results and richer compost, add a compost activator.

– Control moss and broadleaf weeds in lawns with a selective lawn weedkiller. Repair any bare areas by overseeding with grass seed to maintain a thick, even lawn.

– For stubborn perennial weeds such as bindweed and ground elder growing on paths or patios, use a suitable weedkiller. Glyphosate works particularly well during summer while weeds are actively growing. Apply in dry weather and avoid cutting foliage beforehand.

– Protect vulnerable plants from slugs and snails by surrounding them with gravel or coarse grit. Where extra control is needed, use a targeted slug killer.

– If you’re going away on holiday, make watering easier by installing capillary matting or a irrigation system to keep plants hydrated while you’re away.