Reap the Rewards

August is the month where all the hard work and efforts of the past two months begin to pay off, the colour beds should be a riot of hues, the winter bulbs will be budding or in bloom and the vegetables and herbs full of healthy goodness.

Lawns must now be prepared for spring and summer in order to give you a well knitted strong growing long lasting green carpet. Scarify the lawn, get rid of the old under thatch that has accumulated under the green leaves through the cold season. Rake this loose material up and add it to your compost heap. In the places where the soil is hard and compacted, use a fork, a hollow tiner or a spike roller to break up that hard surface to aerate the soil. These holes will also let water and fertilizers into the root zone.

Now apply a layer of lawn dressing (composted topsoil) over the whole area, filling in any depressions and covering bare patches. A level and smooth lawn area will make mowing easier and your cutting heights more even.  Apply fertilizer evenly over the lawn area and water thoroughly; a 7.1.3 is a good fertilizer to use.

While you are in the lawn area and doing all this preparation work, remove all the weeds from this area as well. You should do this before you get to do the lawn dressing, fertilizing and watering. What is good for the grass will be just as good for the weeds! During this month visit your lawns as often as you can as it is easier to physically remove fewer young weeds from the ground or spray a little selective weed killer, than it is to deal with large patches of well, deep rooted weeds.

Compost your beds and add a 2.3.2 in preparation for the spring planting. Herb and vegetable varieties for the summer season are now available. An early sowing will mean an early harvest.

The weather is not always predictable, but August is supposed to be the windy month. Pay special attention to your standards, topiaries and young trees. Make sure these are well staked, and the heads are properly supported in order that the ties holding the plants to the stakes do not damage the stems.

Repotting of pot-bound plants can also now be done. Keep in mind to allow for good drainage in the repotting process; water well to settle the roots with the new soil and feed to boost new growth in the up-coming spring.

Happy Gardening