Sultry late summer

August is usually one of the hottest months of the year – making watering essential. Try to use grey water wherever possible, especially as water butts may be running low if it has been a dry summer. August is traditionally holiday-time, so you might need to enlist the help of friends and family to look after the garden while you are away. When you are at home, take the time to prune summer-flowering shrubs.

Top 10 jobs this month

1 Prune Wisteria

2 Don’t delay summer pruning restricted fruits

3 Deadhead flowering plants regularly

4 Watering! – particularly containers, and new plants, preferably with grey recycled water or stored rainwater

5 Collect seed from favourite plants

6 Harvest sweetcorn and other vegetables as they become ready

7 Continue cutting out old fruited canes on raspberries

8 Lift and pot up rooted strawberry runners

9 Keep ponds and water features topped up

10 Feed the soil with green manures