August gardening checklist

With wetter weather around it is harder to get out in the garden, a good time to do some planning with a cup of tea in hand! Frosts and snow will be about in some areas, when in doubt cover and protect all your hard work.

Spring is also near making August a good time to start prepping for your spring harvest.

Key gardening points for August:

• Prune Hydrangeas back, until you see two fat buds, which will be next seasons flowers.
• It's time to plant new strawberry plants.
• New citrus trees can be planted now.
• Prepare vegetable and flower gardens for spring planting.
• August is a good time to plant summer flowering bulbs.
• Plant new trees and shrubs.
• Feed all existing trees, shrubs and fruit trees with slow release fertiliser.
• Plant seed potatoes.
• Fertilise your lawns now.
• Prepare your soil; once it is dry, remove all the weeds and dig the soil over. Break up any lumps and bumps with your spade. Add compost and sheep pellets and dig through the top layer of soil.
• Protect all seedlings from slugs and snails, they love tender seedlings and the wet weather.

What to plant in August

During August, the winter harvest will be ready and with warm weather just around the corner, August is a perfect time to get the garden flourishing for spring.

Vegetables to plant in August

Winter veggies planted in the previous months will be ready for harvesting. Vegetables ready for harvesting include:

• Cabbage
• Kale
• Onions
• Peas
• Leafy Greens

August is the perfect time to plant potatoes. Plant sprouted seed potatoes now, add a side dressing of potato fertiliser to the soil as you plant. Protect new shoots from any late frosts.

Vegetables to plant in August include:

• Potatoes
• Cabbage
• Kale
• Cauliflower
• Lettuce
• Onion
• Silverbeet
• Spring Onion
• Spinach

Since the weather is still cold, ensure new seedlings are protected from the cold, transplant to the garden as the weather warms and when they are showing at least two sets of true leaves.

Fruit to plant in August

Fruits that can be potted in August include:

• Strawberry
• Blackberry
• Blueberry
• Pear
• Apple
• Fig
• Oranges
• Lemons/Lime
• Mandarins

August is a great time to prepare your fruit garden and plant new crops for spring. Start with citrus trees, get them in the ground now and keep them sheltered from strong winds.

Strawberries can also be planted in August. Mix strawberry food into the soil as you plant, and give older plants a side dressing. Pinch off the first flowers to help plants establish, giving you a better harvest in Spring/Summer.

If you have homemade compost, dig it in now so it can settle before planting. For rhubarb, plant new crowns with blood and bone mixed into the soil. Sprinkle the same fertiliser around existing plants and water it in. Feijoas also do well planted in August. Add blood and bone when planting new ones, and feed established trees with a slow-release fertiliser.

Best bulbs to plant in August

August is ideal for getting your garden ready for spring and summer colour. Start by removing old winter annuals once they’ve finished. Freshen the soil with compost and sheep pellets to prepare for new plantings.

Summer Bulbs to Plant in August:

• Gladioli
• Dahlias
• Begonias

Work bulb food into the soil as you plant to give them a good start. Spring-flowering bulbs already in the ground will also benefit from a top dressing of bulb food this month.

Flower seeds to sow in August:

• Alyssum
• Californian poppy
• Cosmos
• Marigold
• Petunia
• Phlox
• Portulaca
• Salvia
• Snapdragon

Protect young seedlings from cold and transplant once they have at least two true leaves.

Plant flower seedlings of:

• Pansies
• Primroses
• Marigold
• Nemesia
• Viola
• Polyanthus
• Cineraria
• Delphinium
• Cosmos
• Carnations

Gardening & lawn tips for August

• Take advantage of the warmer weather and plant new shrubs and trees, stake where necessary.
• Tidy up and prepare garden beds for spring planting. Remove weeds and enrich the soil with compost and sheep pellets.
• Feed all existing shrubs with a slow release fertiliser.
• New leaves will be starting to burst on your deciduous trees. Check and prune any branches that were damaged over winter.
• Take advantage of the new spring growth and fertiliser your lawn now. Apply evenly across the whole lawn and water in.