August 2026 Top Ten Tips.
TOP TEN TIPS FOR AUGUST
- When watering, particularly during this exceptionally dry period, remember that watering thoroughly is more effective than watering everyday but only wetting the surface will only encourage weeds as well as surface-rooting which will make plants more vulnerable.
- Recycle as much water as possible.
- Make sure that bird baths are always full.
- Ponds: remove floating weed and algae as well as rampant bulrushes and irises which can set seed and become an increasing problem.
- Pest controls:
- White mildew – remove if possible and treat affected areas with fungicide;
- Aphids under leaves – rub them off then either spray with insecticide oruse a natural control such as lacewing larvae;
- Scarlet lily beetle – remove and crush. Check for sticky brown larvae onthe undersides of the leaves;
- Vine weevil in potted plants – they will cause the plant to wilt. Tip theplant out of its pot and look for ‘c’ shaped creamy maggots among the roots. Treat with nematodes.
- Clematis wilt – will cause wilting or black discolouring of the leaves andstems. Cut away infected areas and dispose of them with householdwaste;
- Potato/tomato blight – remove and destroy affected plants straightaway;
- Cabbage white butterfly eggs among brassica leaves – squash them or use nematodes to kill the caterpillars.
- Clear diseased and spent foliage from vegetable plants.
- Pick runner beans regularly. This will stop them becoming stringy and will make room for developing pods otherwise mature pods will not seed and further flowers will be unable to develop.
- Stake top-heavy dahlias and lilies to prevent wind and rain damage.
- Dead-head perennial plants and lilies.
- Trim/cut back: lavenders, herbs and, when flowering has finished, summer-flowering shrubs and wisteria. Also climbing and rambling roses unless they are of the repeat-flowering variety.
TOP TEN TIPS FOR JULY
If you want to take a look back at the July 2026 (or any previous month’s) tips they can all be found via the “News” tab under the heading “Previous Top ten Tips”.