green maintenance
Cutting, fertilizing, planting: the most important gardening tasks in August
In the gardening month of August, small and hobby gardeners really work up a sweat. This article tells you what to think about now. >> Click here for the article.
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Small and hobby gardeners have their hands full in August. This is not always fun in the summer heat, but there is no alternative when it comes to autumn. The most important to-dos at a glance.
In the garden month of August, the first apples and pears can be harvested and tasted in addition to fruit vegetables such as tomatoes, courgettes and cucumbers. In addition, however, it is important to make the first preparations for the coming gardening season. In this article you will find out what these are and how you can properly support the branches of apple and pear trees before the harvest in autumn.
Supporting fruit trees: This is how it works
If a lot of fruit develops on apple or pear trees, the tree and branches can reach their limits in late summer. The heavy pome fruit sometimes pulls the branches down in such a way that they snap off. This means that part of the harvest is lost. To prevent this, the branches with the most fruit should be supported. This works best with a wooden construction.
To do this, proceed as follows:
Option A: Saw two untreated construction bars (round or square) so that you can build a “T” out of it. Nail the shorter cross beam to the support beam and place the T-Bracket under the heavy branch. Drive the prop with one rubber mallet a few centimeters into the ground so that the construction stands securely.
Option B: Alternatively, the support can also be made from a simple wooden board. To do this, shorten a board to the desired length and prepare it with a notch at one end that can hold the branch. It is best to use a jigsaw for this. Then use a wood drill to drill a small hole in the board just below the notch and thread some binding bast through it. Now attach the raffia to the branch and knot it.
Gardening in August: The three most important tasks
1. Pruning and fertilizing roses
It’s a pity: Even the most beautiful roses fade at some point. In the first half of August, the side shoots that have faded should be shortened so that they develop strong shoots again and bloom profusely in the next garden year. This works best with a classic rose scissors with the so-called bypass technique (e.g. from Greentek). You can find more tips on pruning roses here. In addition, roses are happy about something before the start of the dormant period in autumn and winter potash fertilizer. When you get the chance, aerate the soil around the rose directly. Especially after rainfall, this is really good for the rose bed.
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2. Water plants generously
Fruit vegetables such as pumpkin, cucumber, tomatoes or zucchini are extremely thirsty anyway. If there is no water from above for a longer period of time, the fruits switch to the low flame and growth stops. In the worst case, the small cucumbers and courgettes, which are almost 100 percent water, will shrivel and dry out. Therefore, in August, they should be given water from the rain barrel or be supplied by the line. Important: If possible, water in the early morning hours and water the plants directly at the root ball. The leaves should be spared, especially when watering in the midday and evening hours. Sunburn is otherwise inevitable. Ergo: the good old one watering can should be preferred here to the automatic sprinkler system.
3. Maintain lawn
Even the otherwise lush green often suffers greatly from the high temperatures and long dry periods. The culms no longer have sufficient strength to assert themselves against unwanted herbs such as dandelion or clover. Therefore, apply some long-term fertilizer in moderation in August and close gaps in the lawn with fresh seeds. Also the lawn mower (here a model from Bosch) should be used at least once a week.
Extra tip: plant strawberries
It may sound strange, but young strawberry plants should be planted as early as August in a bed that has been freed of weeds and is as moist as possible. Important: In order for the sweet little fruits to ripen well next summer, it is best to move the plants to a bed that has been a strawberry-free zone for at least three years. After planting, treat the strawberries to another one Sack of garden peat.
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