What can you plant and sow in August? What flowers bloom in August? What can you harvest now? We reveal what tasks await us in the garden in August.
When the sun shines tirelessly in August, it's not just the outdoor pools that are in high season: there's also a lot of work going on in the garden. Many types of vegetables can finally be harvested, but planting and sowing is still possible in August. In addition, thanks to gardening in August, the foundation for a good harvest next year is laid for many plants. We'll tell you here what work is pending and what gardening tips you should know about in August.
Sowing and planting in August
If you think that August is already too late to plant new plants, you are sorely mistaken: in fact, some vegetables, berries and flowers can still be sown or planted in summer.
What to plant in August?
August is not only the perfect time to snack on berries, you can also plant them wonderfully. Strawberry plants (Fragaria) ideally move into their new bed at the beginning of August so that they can develop enough roots by autumn. Pay attention to the bed change so that there is no damage to the reproduction. But August is also the best time for planting blueberries (Vaccinium myrtillus). In the vegetable patch, on the other hand, you can use fennel (Foeniculum vulgare var. azoricum), which you can grow indoors from the end of July. Also preferred Chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa subsp. pekinensis), kohlrabi (Brassica oleracea var.gongylodes), cauliflower (Brassica oleracea var. botrytis) and broccoli (Brassica oleraceavar. italica) can enter the bed at the beginning of August. Unfortunately, the planting season for endives (Cichorium endivia) ends in August: The seedlings must be placed in the bed by the end of the month at the latest so that they can thrive. Even in the ornamental garden there is still a lot of activity, because you can plant the steppe candle (Eremurus) as well asplant classic autumn flowers such as the autumn crocus (Colchium autumnale). The beautiful Madonna lily (Lilium candidum) is also allowed to move to its new location in August.
Berries: strawberry, blueberry
Vegetable patch: cauliflower, broccoli, Chinese cabbage, lettuce, kohlrabi, fennel
Ornamental plants: Golden crocus, autumn crocus, saffron crocus, steppe candle, ornamental onion
What else can you sow in August?
Even in August people are still busy sowing: especially autumn crops such as Chinese cabbage, winter hedge onions (Allium fistulosum) and winter radish (Raphanus sativus var. sativus) can be sown without any problems. Plants with a short growth phase such as lamb's lettuce (Valerianella locusta) or radishes (Raphanus sativus var. sativus ) plant. You can also sow dill (Anethum graveolens) and spinach (Spinacia oleracea) in August without any problems. If you want to harvest Swiss chard (Beta vulgaris subsp. vulgaris) this year, you should hurry - the last date for sowing is at the beginning of August.
But what else can you sow in August? In fact, you can even sow flowers: German chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla) will captivate you if you plant it in August, and the next year it will have pretty flowers and its unmistakable scent. The cornflower (Centaurea cyanus) can also be sown at the end of August - this way it will bloom particularly early next year and please insects with its rich supply of nectar.
Vegetables: Chinese cabbage, dill, chard, radish, spinach, winter onion, winter radish
Salad: lamb's lettuce
Ornamental bed: Real chamomile
Tip: A hardy green manure like the shag vetch (Vicia villosa) (60 g / 10 m²) or clover grass (35 g / 10 m²) can be leveled into the ground in August to improve it over the winter.
August Harvest: What's ripe now?
August is a real celebration for gardeners: Hardly any other month offers so much choice of fresh fruit and vegetables. Classic seasonal vegetables in August include cucumbers (Cucumis sativus), peppers (Capsicum) and tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum). ), which can now do without a greenhouse. But also different types of cabbage, beans, fennel, potatoes (Solanum tuberosum)and kohlrabi are finally fresh on the table again.
A lot of people are particularly happy that the fruit season really starts again in August. Apples (Malus domestica), Pears (Pyrus), Peaches (Prunus persica ) and plums (Prunus domestica) bear their ripe fruits from August. Fresh watermelons (Citrullus lanatus), but also blackberries (Rubus) and cranberries (Vaccinium vitis-idaea) provide particularly sweet moments ) from our own cultivation. Even those who prefer something crunchy will get their money's worth, because numerous types of lettuce are ready for harvest in August.
Vegetables: Aubergines, cauliflower, broccoli, mushrooms, Chinese cabbage, broad beans, pickles, peas, fennel, potatoes, carrots, kohlrabi, chard, peppers, parsnips, leeks, Radishes, radishes, red cabbage, cucumbers, spring leeks, pointed cabbage, runner beans, celery, tomatoes, white cabbage, savoy cabbage, sweetcorn, courgettes, onions
Salad: Batavia, Oak Leaf, Iceberg, Lettuce, Lollo Rosso, Dandelion, Radicchio
Fruit: Apples, apricots, pears, blackberries, blueberries, raspberries, currants, plums, peaches, plums, lingonberries, sweet cherries, gooseberries, sour cherries, watermelons
What's blooming in August?
What would summer be without flowers? Especially during the warm summer months, the colorful play of colors of the flowers enchants us every time. But what actually blooms in August? In fact, quite a lot: For example, the sun eye (Heliopsis) lives up to its name and shines like the sun. Globe thistles (Echinops), on the other hand, bring a modern, almost futuristic flair to the bed, with their circular flowers almost seeming to float. The fragrant nettle (Agastache foeniculum), on the other hand, provides an intense olfactory experience with its inflorescences, water daisy (Eupatorium cannabinum) shows its pink flowers at the edge of the pond. Meanwhile, night owls can marvel at the magnificent blossoms of the Miracle Flower (Mirabilis jalapa).
But not only the perennial border blooms in August: the aromatic southernwood (Artemisia abrotanum) and the spicy curry herb (Helichrysum italicum bloom in the herb bed ). The bush chestnut (Aesculus parviflora) also shows its delicate blossoms and is a magnet for numerous night owls. The summer lilac (Buddleja) wears its flower decoration and the cinnamon alder(Clethra) entices with its beautiful flowers and an intoxicating scent of vanilla.
Perennials: Scented nettle, Globe thistle, Damsel's eye, Evening primrose, Sun's eye, Sun bride, Superb primrose, Water daisy, Magic flower
Herbs: curry herb, dill, southernwood, lemon balm
Trees and Shrubs: Blood Trumpet Tree, Buddleia, Shrub Chestnut, Cinnamon Alder
More gardening in August
When gardening in August, it's not just about harvesting and sowing in the vegetable patch - there's also hard work going on in other parts of the garden. The garden month of August includes the following tasks.
Pruning blackberries: After the harvest is before the harvest - since blackberries mainly bear berries on the canes formed the previous year, the two-year-old shoots should be cut just above the ground after the harvest will. Only this year's shoots are left on the bush when pruning blackberries.
Keep the lawn he althy: Even in August, the lawn must not be neglected: apart from watering, regular mowing is mandatory to keep the grass in good condition. In addition, the lawn can be slowly prepared for the winter with a good autumn lawn fertilizer. August is also the best time to close small gaps in the lawn with a lawn repair.
Watering: In August it's time for water: To prevent the lawn and flowers from drying out, it should be watered regularly. To keep evaporation as low as possible, water in the early morning or late evening hours.
Tip: Your plants also need water during your summer vacation. We'll show you how to water your plants on vacation.
Pruning hedges: Strong growing hedges such as privet (Ligustrum vulgare) or hornbeam (Carpinus betulus ) often need a second cut in August after the first cut in June to stay in shape. But be careful: don't wait too long, the plants need enough time to regenerate before winter.
Pruning lavender: In order to keep the aromatic lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) attractive and in good shape, it is important to prune it regularly . When the lavender has almost completely faded at the end of August, it can be shortened by about a third.
Care for roses: In August, faded roses shouldSide shoots in breeding roses are shortened to stimulate the formation of new flowers. In addition, roses are fertilized one last time in August before winter. You can find out how to properly fertilize roses in this article.
Dividing perennials: If you want to divide perennials that flowered in early summer or spring, August is the perfect time of year. Try to damage as few roots as possible when dividing, so the plants will grow back better later.
Pruning faded daylilies: When the beautiful daylily (Hemerocallis) is out of bloom, its foliage begins to turn an unsightly brown. Once this is done, cut the daylilies about 4 to 6 inches off the ground - pruning the daylilies encourages the growth of new, fresh leaves at the base.
Pruning walnuts: Walnut trees (Juglans regia) usually do well without pruning, but if they do, pruning does is due, this should happen in August. The reason for this is that the heavily bleeding wounds lose less fluid in August than in the other months.
Fertilize tomatoes: If you want to look forward to a rich tomato harvest, you can use fertilizer again in August: only if the plants are supplied with sufficient nutrients from a good fertilizer, such as the primarily organic Plantura organic tomato fertilizer, they can also bring the maximum yield.
Even though summer is slowly making way for autumn, the gardening season is far from over. Find out what gardening is coming up in September in this article.