Heatwave Help

Gardening Jobs in August

August isn’t the easiest month to keep a garden going. The heat can drag on, and the rain often disappears for weeks, leaving soil to crack, lawns to fade, and the plants you thought were fine to suddenly stop looking their best.

This time of year, borders also seem to get messier quicker than you can tidy them, and pots tend to dry out in a matter of hours, rather than days. Deadheading flowers keeps borders going a bit longer, and it stops plants wasting energy on seed when you’d rather have colour and removing any tired or dead tree branches will help prolong seasonal colour. Watering is the obvious job, but it’s easy to slip behind, so a setting a routine in the morning or evening makes life a little easier. Mulching also earns its place now as it helps lock in moisture and stops the ground baking hard in dry spells.

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How Often Should I Water Trees and Plants in Hot Weather?

Hot weather always shows up the plants and trees that don’t cope so well, and the only way to help them is with proper watering. Trees don’t need you out there every day with a hose, but they do better with a heavy soak once or twice a week so the water sinks right down rather than sitting on the surface. Pots are another story and they can sometimes dry out within a matter of hours, so they’ll need checking every day and topped up when they look thirsty.

Best to water during the cooler parts of the day, like in the morning or evening. This is when it counts most because the soil has a chance to hold on to it.

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Should I mulch in August

The short answer is yes! Mulching in August is great for your garden as it help to retain moisture when the soil is still a little on the dry side. Its also good for chocking weeds and stopping them from coming back through.

Placing a layer of mulch around trees and shrubs keeps roots cooler, which matters when the sun has baked the ground for days on end. You don’t need anything fancy either, wood chips, compost or even leaf mould all do the job, and they all break down over time anyway which just further improves the soil. Just make sure you spread it evenly and avoid piling it against the base of plants, as that can trap damp in the wrong places.

*Dogs in photo as no decent photos of mulch

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Water wisely

During hot weather, watering is one of the most important things you can do – but the timing and method matter.

The best time to water is early in the morning or later in the evening when temperatures are cooler. This reduces evaporation and allows moisture to reach the roots rather than disappearing in the midday sun.

When watering give the tree a deep soak, rather than a quick sprinkle. Water the soil around the base of the plant, not just the leaves. A good rule is to water less often but more thoroughly, encouraging roots to grow deeper into the soil.

Focus on newly-planted trees and shrubs, as their root systems are still developing. Make sure to avoid overwatering – roots also need oxygen to stay healthy.