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August in your garden: An elaborate guide for all gardening enthusiasts

August is right around the corner and since it is still the middle of summer this month, you have plenty to do in your garden. August is also called the harvest month, because during this month many plants, flowers, vegetables and fruit mature. This means that a possible vegetable garden will now bear the most fruit, literally and figuratively. Flower gardens will also look beautiful in August because many plants still bloom. In short: August is a moment of pleasure for everyone. Are you curious about what awaits you and your backyard this month? Here you have a handy overview of what your garden will need you for shortly.

Planting and sowing

Although August is mainly a time of harvesting, there is also a lot to plant. This includes all kinds of vegetables, but other beautiful plants as well. This can be planted and sown in August:

In the vegetable garden

Not only can you plant different kinds of fruit and vegetables, but you can also do all kinds of preparation for the winter months. Here is an overview of everything you can plant and sow in August:

  • Potatoes
  • Strawberries (for next year)
  • Endive (planting out)
  • Cauliflower (planting out for winter cultivation)
  • Kale (for winter cultivation)
  • Beans
  • Cos lettuce (for planting out)
  • Chinese cabbage (for next year )
  • Iceberg lettuce (planting out)
  • Kohlrabi (planting out)
  • Coriander
  • Spring onions (for next year) Bok
  • Choy
  • Parsley
  • Purslane
  • Mustard
  • Radish Radish
  • radish
  • Red chicory
  • Red beets
  • Savoy cabbage (for next year)
  • Lettuce
  • Swiss chard (for next year)
  • Spinach (from mid-August)
  • Pointed cabbage (winter cultivation) Lamb's
  • lettuce (planting out)
  • Winter purslane
  • Winter onions

Because you will harvest a lot this month, your garden may be left with empty spots. You can choose to sow mustard there. This plant greatly contributes to the fertility of your soil, so that you can continue to enjoy your vegetable garden just as much next year.

Harvesting

You will definitely spend the most time harvesting this month. Which fruits and vegetables can you harvest now? Here you will find an overview:

  • Onions
  • Apples
  • Eggplant
  • Beans
  • Blueberries
  • Blackberries
  • Zucchini
  • Raspberries
  • Cherries
  • Cucumbers
  • Herbs
  • Gooseberries
  • Peppers
  • Pears
  • Peaches
  • Legumes
  • Onion sets
  • Plums
  • Red berries
  • Tomatoes
  • Figs
  • Wineberries

When it comes to harvesting certain vegetables in your garden, it is important not to wait too long. You can think of tomatoes, cucumbers, aubergines, beans and courgettes. Young vegetables taste a lot better, and by picking them in time, the plant can put its energy into a new round of harvest.

Growth and blooming

Many flowers have already finished blooming by August, but if you still want to enjoy a colourful garden in this month, that is certainly possible. Here you will find 10 different types of plants that still bear beautiful flowers in late summer:

  • Sunflowers
  • Alstroemeria
  • Dahlias
  • Pinks
  • Zinnias
  • Tithonia
  • Love-in-a-mist
  • Cosmos
  • Globe thistle

Pruning and cutting

In addition to harvesting, there is also a lot of pruning, cutting, mowing and harvesting to be done. This way you ensure that unhealthy plants make room for new healthy ones and your garden remains fresh and fruity all year round. Which plants can get a nice cut in August?

First of all: weeds of course. Those continue to grow in August, which is why chopping, hoeing and weeding remain important.

Many plants with flowers will have almost finished flowering by this time of year. Even if they haven’t it is wise to remove dead flowers from the plants. If there are seeds in the flowers you can save them. Furthermore, it will make your garden look more alive and plants can put their energy into the flowers that are left.

Hedges and fruit trees can also be pruned in August. Pruning a hedge ensures a winter-long beautiful shape while pruning a fruit tree makes for a sturdier, healthier and more productive tree. In addition to trees and hedges, smaller plants may also be trimmed shorter. Dead twigs, unsightly leaves and other material that you do not want on your plant can be pruned off in this way. This is especially important for fruit and vegetable plants because you stimulate the plant to put energy into fruiting. In addition, withered parts of fruit and vegetable plants are sometimes susceptible to diseases or parasites, making it even more important to trim them.

Animals in your garden

Enjoying the local fauna in your own garden is always fun; What can you do to help birds and insects get through this warm month? The best way to help animals in the summer is to provide them with a water source. For example, opt for a water feature. If you have a pond, it may also be suitable; birds can wash in it and drink from them. An additional advantage is of course that you can see all kinds of beautiful things flying by.

Unfortunately, summer heat also means that you will have to deal with less desirable guests. Snails and slugs can appear in large numbers after short-term damp weather and feast on your crops and plants. It is therefore a good idea to take measures against this, such as special snail-resistant ground cover or snail traps.

In addition to slugs, wasps also show up in many gardens to pose a threat to the general peace of mind. Use wasp traps and hang them strategically near your patio where you like to enjoy a glass of orange juice.

Do you have a pond and do you happen to have fish in it? Then it is also important this month to take care of that. Aquatic plants often grow very quickly in August and can take over the entire pond. Take the time to remove leaves and other excess vegetation from the water once in a while. Also pay attention to the water level, as it drops quickly in the warm sun. Top up the pond from time to time with tap or rainwater.