Gardeners are being urged to make the most of the final days of August, with experts revealing five jobs to tackle before September – but warning against rushing into a major garden tidy-up. After a challenging summer of hot and dry conditions across the UK, garden designer Antony Henn says homeowners should take a more selective approach to their usual end-of-summer maintenance.
Leave faded foliage in place
Rather than cutting everything back, gardeners should leave some faded foliage and stems in place, where they can help shade exposed soil, provide shelter for insects and support wildlife.
“This summer has been very challenging for our gardens and nature in general,” said Antony, garden designer and owner of Garden on a Roll.
“In our garden we have pretty much abandoned normal maintenance and let nature take over. Faded flowers and stems that we would ordinarily cut down have been left to protect the soil from the drying sun, which has really increased the bird life in the garden as many insects now inhabit our rather unruly patch.”
Deadhead flowers selectively
One of the first jobs gardeners can tackle is selective deadheading. Removing spent flowers from plants including roses, cosmos, dahlias, salvias and rudbeckias can encourage further blooms before autumn.
However, gardeners hoping to collect seeds should avoid deadheading every flower. Antony recommends leaving some flowers to set seed in less prominent areas of the garden.
Give struggling plants targeted water
Another job to prioritise is targeted watering. With hosepipe restrictions still affecting some parts of the UK, gardeners should focus their available water on plants that are genuinely struggling rather than attempting to keep the entire garden looking lush.
Once plants have been watered, adding compost, soil conditioner or fine bark can help retain moisture and protect the soil from drying out.
Collect seeds before September
Gardeners should also collect mature seeds before the end of August. Annuals such as cosmos and tobacco plants can produce plenty of seed, which can be collected once the seed heads have matured and stored somewhere cool and dark before being sown next spring.
Leave autumn-flowering plants alone
A fourth job is to leave autumn-flowering perennials alone. Rudbeckia, Japanese anemone and asters can be at their best in autumn, so cutting them back too early could mean losing some of their seasonal display. These plants can generally be left until late winter or early spring.
Gardeners can also keep an eye on weeds, rather than automatically removing everything they find. Non-invasive wildflowers can be left to support wildlife and contribute to a more natural-looking garden.
Don't tidy for the sake of tidying
But the biggest message from Antony is not to tidy simply for the sake of tidying. Leaving some seed heads, stems and non-invasive wildflowers can provide food and shelter for insects and birds, while faded foliage can help protect exposed soil from the sun.
“Rather than worrying about making the garden look perfectly tidy, I'd relax about a major clear-out until September,” Antony said. “Let the garden do some of the work for you.”
