BBC Gardeners' World podcast expert Claire Vannes has shared her top three jobs for gardeners to complete this August to prepare their gardens for winter and next spring.
First job: Tidy up borders
Vannes recommends starting with the borders of flower beds. She advises gardeners to stand back and assess their borders before deciding where to begin. She suggests snipping back spent blooms and removing tatty leaves, which not only keeps things neat but also helps prevent disease and encourages more flowers.
She also warns to watch out for weeds hiding among plants, as a quick weed now will save trouble later. The finishing touch is trimming lawn edges for a crisp frame, which makes flowers pop. She notes that a quick border tidy-up can make a significant difference, leaving the garden looking fresh for the rest of the month.
Second job: Take salvia cuttings
If applicable, Vannes suggests taking salvia cuttings for the next year. She describes it as a lovely insurance policy in case parent plants struggle through winter. Salvia cuttings are easy to root, and the best time to collect them is in the cool of the morning.
She advises snipping strong, healthy, non-flowering shoots above a leaf joint, placing them in a plastic bag with a spritz of water to prevent wilting. When ready, snip off lower leaves, leaving about four at the top, and trim the base just below a node. Then fill a small pot or tray with gritty, peat-free compost, make holes, and pop the cuttings in so leaves don't touch. Cover with a clear lid or plastic bag to keep them humid.
Third job: Plant cabbages for spring
Finally, Vannes recommends planting cabbages for next spring. Although spring is far away, this is the right time, but planting strategy depends on soil and cabbage variety. She advises choosing a patch cleared of weeds but not recently dug over, as cabbages prefer firm soil. For acidic soil, liming in winter is best, but missing it this year is not a problem.
Check spacing for your variety, but generally allow at least 30cm between plants and 45-60cm between rows. You can harvest every other plant as immature greens if overcrowded. Plant them up to the first set of true leaves, firm them in well, and water thoroughly. Keep an eye out for root fly; a bit of netting works wonders.
