Noah Mabey, senior gardener at Thornbridge Hall and horticultural adviser, has shared a simple 2-minute technique to support garden wildlife during heatwaves, along with tips to keep gardens thriving into autumn.
Supporting wildlife in the heat
Mabey told Platinum Spas Hot Tubs that birds, bees and butterflies can struggle in the heat as they are unable to locate fresh water. His recommendation is to place a shallow dish of clean water in the garden.
He explained: "I like to add pieces of tufa stone, gravel or marbles so bees, butterflies and other insects have somewhere safe to land while they drink. Birds will also appreciate a larger bowl of clean water nearby."
Seed collecting and sowing
Mabey also suggests that August is the ideal month to begin gathering seeds from favourite flowers, such as poppies, sweet peas, foxgloves or Nigella Damascena, as their seed heads typically dry out around this period. Leaving them to dry naturally and collecting them allows gardeners to keep them cool and dry for replanting.
He added: "It's a simple way to grow more of the plants you love next year without spending any extra money. Flowers such as poppies can even be scattered straight back into borders now, allowing them to naturally establish for next season."
Planning for autumn and spring
Mabey advises that August is also an excellent month for sowing crops and flowers for late-season colour and harvests. Salad leaves such as lettuce, rocket and spinach can still be sown for late-season picking, while spring cabbage, spring onions and hardy herbs continue to establish well.
He adds that August is the perfect opportunity to sow biennials such as foxgloves, wallflowers and sweet williams, giving them time to establish before blooming next spring.
