August in the idyllic garden

Slow preparation for autumn - what to do in the garden in August!

Autumn often arrives sooner than we think. So preparations need to be made in the garden in August to start the season in a relaxed way.
We have tips for you on what you can already do now:

Collect seeds for next year:

We often have plants in the garden that are only annuals or biennials, but which should cover the garden in a blaze of flowers again the following year.
To do this, you should collect the seeds of the plants you want to grow again in August. It is best to dry the seeds on a large tray and then put them in paper bags with a label so that you will still know which seeds are in the bags next year.

Fertilising perennials:

Often we forget that plants still need strength in late summer, but it is especially important to fertilise then. Mostly the ingredients and minerals of the soil are used up and the perennials no longer bloom properly, exactly then it is time to fertilise one last time to strengthen the plants.
The best way of doing this is to use liquid fertiliser, which can simply be added to the water according to the instructions on the packet. This way you can be sure that your perennials will be in full bloom again in late summer and autumn.

Prune fast growing plants:

Before the work in the garden becomes less again, you should prune the fast growing woody plants once more. Otherwise, fast cold weather can make sure that the trees and shrubs can no longer be touched. If you prune in good time, you can expect wonderfully flowering trees and shrubs next year.

Cutting flowers for autumn Bouquets:

To make a colourful autumn bouquet, you need all kinds of flowers and leaves. It is very important to cut off the flowers before they dry out on the bush, otherwise they will fall right off. Cut off the blossoms of hydrangeas, residual blossoms of roses, lavender etc. now and dry them spread out in the storage room or in a dry place. This way the dried flowers can be made into a wonderful autumn decoration at the end of September or beginning of October.

Harvesting herbs:

At the moment, the garden offers us a large yield, whether fruit, vegetables or herbs.
But in order to have enough herbs in autumn and winter, we should harvest most of them right now and dry them in a dry place, spread out or hung up. The dried herbs can then be crushed or ground to enrich dishes with intense flavour in autumn and winter.

Collect fallen fruit:

Fruit that has already reached its ripeness stage or is already past it falls off the trees. Often this can still be used, but you have to collect it in time to prevent it from rotting. Now is the time to do this. Collect the fruit and if you no longer like it as it is, it makes an excellent compote, jam or chutney with its intense sweetness.

Cut off tomato plants:

The tomato plants still want to grow in height, but it is time to cut off their tops. This way the remaining fruiting stalks ripen and we have another rich tomato harvest in late summer. And if there are too many tomatoes, they can be made into tomato soup or frozen as a sauce to enjoy in autumn and winter.

Reseed the lawn:

If some areas of the lawn have dried out or burnt over the summer, it is time to fill in the gaps with lawn seed in August and September. This gives the lawn enough time to grow back and gain strength before winter, so that it is ready for the cold season.

Divide perennials:

If perennials in the garden have become too large, late summer is the time to divide them. You can also give a piece to a neighbour or friend. Not every garden is big enough to replant the divided perennials in another place.