August is probably one of my favourite months of the gardening year. Even though its still cold and wintery, there is a distinct change in energy. Plants will be budding up with the first of the spring blooms starting, birdsong changes, the mornings are lighter and the increase in insect and pollinator life is clearly visible. Abuzz, if you will.
August is the ideal time to get a jump on spring plantings of warm season crops and to get prepared for the months of abundance on the way. The primary lunar planting windows of leaf, flower and seed crops are early and in quick succession this month, within the waxing crescent ingress to waxing gibbous moon phases and root crops are late within the third week of the lunar month (dates found below).
Rogue frost is still a factor at play during August so its advisable to start tender spring annual seed in seed trays where they can be protected and the hardier seed that wont mind the odd frost can be direct sown.
Spring flowers incoming…
Late winter is generally when I’ll give spring flowering perennial crops a feed. During winter when plants and shrubs are dormant, fertilising isn’t necessary and its also counterproductive as it encourages plants to shoot too early and to be susceptible to frost damage and poor growth. Generally by August however, plants are back in bud or leaf again and topdressing these perennial beds is of benefit and will see them through to flowering.
Its important when fertilising to make sure compost is thoroughly broken down and to also keep the influx of nitrogen in balance. Too much nitrogen will result in rapid growth that ultimately weakens the plant, encourages pests and diseases and lessens flowering or fruiting (the plant will put more energy into leaf production if overloaded with nitrogen).
If using a slow release fertiliser, always choose an organic product as these will usually have a lower NPK (nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium) analysis than the synthetic options. Having a lower NPK analysis is of benefit as a lower, steadier release of minerals to the soil will see regulated growth and mitigation of vulnerability to pests, burn, wilt and disease that can occur with the higher NPK analysis found in synthetic fertiliser.
Don’t over fertilise that juicy new growth!
Along with getting started in earnest with seed sowing and the early spring plant out, August is a good time to get some housekeeping done and to make sure tools are clean and ready for another season. Its easy to forget to keep tools clean but its essential in stopping the spread of disease throughout the garden.
Lunar dates & primary planting windows in August