August Monthly Tips

The Flower Garden

  • Dahlia and Begonia tubers, and Gladioli bulbs, are all in store this month – plant now for a riot of summer colour. Buy online.
  • Begonias are one of the easiest summer flowers to grow. They are bright and cheerful and come in a range of colours and types to suit every situation. They are easy to grow and will give months of summer colour
  • Lift and split Summer-flowering perennial colour.
  • Plants which have overwintered in the ground can now be lifted and split, tidied up and replanted into freshly dug soil.
  • Add in compost and sheep pellets and a handful of flowering slow release fertiliser..
  • Roses
    • If you haven’t completed your rose pruning it is not too late but try to have it done as soon as possible this month. More on Rose pruning (video).
    • It is a good time to plant roses as it gives them time to settle and put on root and leaf growth before spring and summer flowering.
    • Roses are now as popular as ever and are unsurpassed for summer colour and fragrance. There is a rose to suit every situation – groundcover, patio pots, covering walls and trellis, adding colour to the border year after year.
  • Now is a good time to prepare ground for sowing new lawns in September. Spray out any perennial weeds with Roundup, dig over and level ground, removing stones, roots, and other debris. More on lawns.
  • Camellias that have finished flowering can be pruned back and fed with ‘Tui Acid Plant Food.’
  • A protective Copper based spray can be applied to deciduous trees and roses to reduce risk of fungal diseases over spring and summer months. More on sprays or more on Organic sprays.
  • Good soil preparation is the key this month, prior to spring planting.
  • Dig soil over well, breaking down any clods.
  • Add in lots of good organic compost.
  • A dressing of lime can also be added now, especially in vegetable gardens. This gives the lime time to react before adding other fertilisers in the spring.
  • Remember not to apply lime around plants which like acidic soil conditions – Camellias, Azaleas, Rhododendrons, Ericas, etc.

The Edible Garden

  • With spring just around the corner, now is the time to start preparing the soil for planting out summer vegetables and fruits.
  • Dig soil over and apply generous quantities of good organic compost.
  • Now is a good time to apply garden lime – refer to packaging for application rates.
  • Start sowing seeds in trays for spring planting – a light-weight, portable greenhouse is perfect for this.
  • Seed potatoes can be planted this month.
    • Potatoes grow best in a warm, sunny position.
    • They prefer a free draining soil with lots of organic matter.
    • Make sure seed potatoes have a lot of good sprouts before planting.
  • Rhubarb – Nothing beats the taste of home-grown rhubarb with your muesli or weet-bix for breakfast! Plant Rhubarb now, dig in lots of compost and sheep pellets.
    • Rhubarb is planted by ‘Crowns’ which are available this month.
    • Rhubarb plants are heavy feeders so dig in plenty of top quality compost at planting time and follow up with general garden fertiliser at regular intervals through the year.
  • Citrus trees can be planted now in milder climates.
    • Citrus are the most popular fruit tree for the home garden.
    • They like a warm, sunny position, and a free draining soil.
    • Feed in spring and autumn with a fruit tree and citrus fertiliser, and water well in drier months.
  • Strawberries – Now’s the time to be planting strawberries.
    • Strawberries like good fertile soil, so dig in lots of top quality compost before planting. A handful of Blood and Bone in the planting hole and a top dressing of general fertiliser will get them off to a flying start!
    • Remember to water in well after planting.
    • Strawberries look great in strawberry pots on the deck – easy picking in the summer!
  • Vege Garden – still lots to do in the vegetable garden this month. See the Whanganui vegetable planting plan.
    • Spinach, cabbage, winter lettuce, and bok choy should all be part of your winter garden.
    • Broad beans are a great winter garden crop – plant seeds now into prepared soil. Provide some support as they do get reasonably tall (use twigs and small branches from your pruning in the garden).
    • Broad beans are easy care and you will have delicious young beans in October/November.
    • Shallots – sweeter than garlic, milder than onions. Great in stews and casseroles, or roasted whole. Shallots are easy to grow and take up little space in the garden.
Months: August