It's been an unpredictable summer, weather-wise, but we might still enjoy an Indian Summer. If that happens, grab your sun hat and sunscreen, and head into the garden! The Barnsdale Gardens team shares essential August gardening tips to help you achieve a garden to be proud of.

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Discourage Slugs

Wet weather makes slugs and snails more active, so protect your young and soft-stemmed plants in both productive areas and ornamental borders. The Barnsdale team recommends using wood ash around susceptible plants or applying organic slug pellets.

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Keep on Top of Weeds

Weeds compete with your plants for water and can harbour pests. Regularly hoe or pull out weeds to maintain a healthy garden.

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Cut Back Scruffy Perennials

Early flowering perennials can start to look untidy, detracting from the beauty of your garden. Remove spent flower stems and cut back any scruffy leaves to encourage fresh growth.

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Trim Herbs

Herbs can become woody and untidy, reducing their usefulness in the kitchen. Give them a good trim to promote the growth of soft, aromatic, and flavourful leaves.

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Plant Spring Flowering Bulbs

Plant a variety of spring bulbs at the end of this month or the beginning of next to ensure a vibrant flower display next year and beyond.

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Harvest Raspberries

Stay on top of harvesting your maincrop and autumn raspberries, which are both producing abundantly at this time.

Prune Apples and Pears Now is the time to prune this year’s shoots on established apple and pear trees. This will promote the development of more fruiting buds and help produce a good crop of well-sized fruit. Cut back shoots to three buds, usually leaving about 2.5cm (1 inch).

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AND DON'T FORGET...

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There is plenty to do in August at Barnsdale Gardens!

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Productive Area Tours: 10th - 11th August, 12pm & 2pm

Join our vegetable grower-in-chief, Susie, for tours of Barnsdale's fruit and vegetable growing areas.

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Barnsdale Gardens: Behind the Scenes: 18th August, 12pm-4pm

Join Nick Hamilton for short walks and discussions about what’s looking good in the gardens and the history behind them.

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