August - The Flower Gardener's Diary
August is the time of horticultural shows, and many gardeners are keeping an eye on their best specimens, which are often shown at flower shows near and far.
August is the time to:
Prepare:
- Sites for new lawns to be sown in the autumn
Take cuttings of:
- Border carnations
- Pinks
- Tender perennials
- Flowering shrubs
- Rock and alpine plants
- Hydrangeas
- Lavender
- Rambling roses
Sow Outdoors:
Plant Out:
- Colchicums
- Hardy cyclamen
Plant:
- Narcisssi bulbs
- Lilium candidum bulbs (Madonna lily)
Things to do
- Dead head faded flowers from rose bushes, annuals and perennials
- Clip hedges, including yew hedges
- Remove side flower buds from dahlias and chrysanthemums, if a single larger flower is required
- Water hanging baskets daily, but never in full sun. Feed once a fortnight for a continual show of flowers
- Spray roses to control any outbreaks of diseases or pests
- Cut and dry any everlasting flowers for indoor use. Garden grown flowers such as Limonium (statis), helichrysum (straw or everlasting flower) and helipterum are excellent for drying and are often used for indoor decoration during the winter months
- Prune rambling roses when the flowers have faded
- Make a note of where things are growing, as any changes to your border can be made by replanting in the autumn
- Mow lawns regularly, occassionally without the box on, to allow the clippings to act as a mulch
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The August Decorative Garden... 
