Garden Notes for August 2024.

Plant Madonna lilies now, with not more than 2” of soil above each bulb.  Order lilies for autumn delivery.  Tiger lilies and some hybrids produce bulbils between the leaves and the stem.  Gather the bulbils when they fall at a touch and plant them in a deep seed box, about 2” apart.

Keep shrubs tidy by dead heading.  Especially roses, but do not apply rose fertiliser after the end of July, this avoids late soft growth which will not mature before winter.

Laurel is a very useful plant but it is very vigorous and August is the month to keep it neat by trimming your laurel hedge.  Some gardeners say that the laurel hedge should be trimmed using secaturs only.  This does give a much improved finish, if you have the time.  Using shears is much quicker and does not substantially make much difference.  If you can allow your compost more than 2 years to compost, then put your laurel trimmings on to it.  If, like me, you can only keep the compost heap for a matter of months, it is better to get rid of the laurel leaves since they take a long time to decompose due to their waxy surface.

Dahlias are supposed to be making a come back, having been rejected as being too gaudy.  I have always liked them, and wish that I could grow specimens to compete in the Summer Show (this year to be held on Saturday 17 August).  To even have a chance, now is the time to make sure that you disbud them, only one flower being kept on each stem.  Dahlias will also need to be tied in as their stems become very heavy with the foliage and bloom and are easily broken by gusts of wind.

Cut out old raspberry canes that have fruited this year.  Cut them down to ground level and retain only six or seven of the strongest new canes on each plant for fruiting next year.  Overcrowding of the canes can lead to a higher incidence of disease.

Cut gladioli for indoor use when the first floret has opened.  For exhibition plants the timing of cutting is dependent on the variety.  The idea is to have as many florets open as possible.  Remember to leave 4 –5 leaves when cutting a spike.

Keep cutting sweet pea blooms.  Never allow the blooms to fade or droop otherwise the flowering period will be shortened.

Early in the month sow spring cabbage.  Recommended varieties include ‘Early Market’, ‘Harbinger’, ‘Flower of Spring’ and ‘Wheeler’s Imperial’.

Provide you have a place where the seed can germinate at temperatures below 20 C sow some lettuce for cutting in the winter.  Try ‘Winter Density’ or ‘Artic King’.

Keep a careful watch for potato blight.  Cut off affected haulm and destroy it, don’t compost it.

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