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A gardening expert has revealed an essential task you need to do now to ensure your lawn survives the winter.
The hot weather can be detrimental to your lawn. It can dry out and the grass can die.
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Now is the perfect time to get it back into top condition so it can withstand the colder days ahead.
Prepare the lawn
Nick Ee, Product and Training Manager at BLACK+DECKERsaid it’s important to aerate, dethatch and fertilize your lawn now so it will perform well in the fall.
Scarifying is the process of using a tool to remove matted grasses and moss from the surface of your lawn.
Nick said: “Removing this layer prevents the lawn from getting too wet and ensures the grass grows healthier.
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“Use a hand rake for small lawns or an electric scarifier for larger areas. Set the blades shallow for the first mowing.
“After you remove the dirt, aerate the lawn to improve soil and root health. Then fertilize and seed the bare spots for regrowth.”
The expert said there are two other tasks you should do now to prepare your garden for the colder weather ahead.
Pruning plants
Pruning dead or diseased plants is a good way to improve their overall health prior to fall.
To do this, take a sharp pruning tool and remove dead or diseased branches. This will stimulate healthy growth.
Nick said: “This helps improve air circulation and sunlight exposure for the coming growing season.
Be sure to clean up any pruned branches and debris around the tree to prevent the spread of disease.
“If you are unsure about how to prune a particular type of tree or if the tree is large and requires extensive pruning, consider consulting a specialist.”
Cleaning and storing garden tools
After you’ve finished gardening for the summer, it’s a good idea to clean all of your tools in preparation for use the following season.
It is also important to store them in a shed or garage so they don’t rust or get damaged.
Gardening work in August
Veronica Lorraine, gardening editor for The Sun, has shared 10 gardening jobs to do during the last month of summer, as well as the most important jobs to remember when you go on holiday.
1. Watering plants on holiday
Think about how you are going to water your plants when you go away. Irrigation systems are ridiculously expensive, so ask a friend or neighbor to come over.
2. Don’t forget your houseplants!
For houseplants, use the upside-down bottle trick – fill a wine bottle and then turn it upside down, pour downwards and stick it in the pot – the water should slowly seep out. For smaller plants, use a thick piece of string and run it from a glass of water into the soil – this will allow it to soak up water slowly. Be sensible with your watering – visit www.mains2rains.nl for some tips on how to save water in August. But use as much grey water – i.e. dishwater – as possible to save such a valuable resource.
3. Dig for potatoes
The second early potatoes are ready to be harvested.
4. Keep removing faded flowers
Use pruning shears or pinch off the flowers with your finger and thumb. For roses, make sure you get back to a set of five leaves so you have the best chance of more flowers.
5. Plant strawberries
You can actually plant strawberries as early as the end of August, which will be ready next year. For the strawberries you already have, if there are any shoots growing out of them, try to put them in pots to get more strawberries for free.
6. Prune lavender
At the end of August, when the lavender has finished flowering, you can prune it back. Always prune it back to the woody stems, but make sure you can still see some small buds.
7. Collect seeds
Many plants are starting to go to seed now, so it’s the perfect time to collect them and get free plants for next year. Just make sure you label the envelopes.
8. Sow hardy annuals
Sow hardy annuals towards the end of the month so they will flower next year. Try to choose sheltered spots for them.
9. Pruning back roses
Prune the climbing roses back and make sure they are all tied up. Give your roses their last feed at the end of August.
10. Make sure your hanging baskets are well watered
It is very important to give hanging baskets enough water. They dry out first and the least quickly.
Nick said, “Before you put your tools away, give them a good cleaning by wiping them down with a degreaser and a steel wool brush, depending on the material.
“When storing tools in the garage or shed, always make sure power tools are off the ground to prevent moisture damage.”
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