Mzz B's August Garden

Red Hot poker Kniphofia Hooperi

Campanula

Rose The Generous Gardener

Euphorbia

Bright red pelargonium

Maurandia- tender climbing erennial

Floods, heat and drought!
It's remained a struggle to manage the garden this year- floods followed by heat and drought. But it is surprising what has flourished and not only managed these conditions but thrived on them. Everyone has said that it has been an amazing year for roses- perhaps due to the wet last year followed by a much colder winter- they are now putting on a second flush despite the heat and drought. Surprisingly a lovely campanula has also put on a second flush of flowers. Then there are the tender perennials which are loving it, also the later flowering perennials like the kniphofia( red hot poker) have never looked so good. So guess we have learn from this if climate change means that these conditions are what we should expect in the future. Remember that Mediterranean plants that have grey leaves survive very well in these conditions.

One of the clues to having things flowering through the summer is to have some of those later flowering perennials tucked in to the back of the border- like asters which are yet to flower and the late flowering kniphofia. These plants often seem to benefit from a hot summer.

However it would still be good to have some rain as the veg garden has definitely suffered.

Tips on managing drought conditions

• Mulch the soil in the winter with either homemade compost, leaf mold, in the veg garden even cardboard and grass clippings, this then enables the soil to hold on to moisture. It also helps to prevent clay from drying out.
• We don't yet have a hosepipe ban but it is good to be careful with watering. Make sure you do this in the evening so that plants have the night to soak it up before the heat of the day. You don't need to water everything- concentrate on the plants that are suffering and give them a whole watering can full of water- it is surprising what that does!
• Always water plants in pots, but check if they need it first- but use the age old trick of putting your finger into the soil- if it is damp leave it for a night!
• Collect water from the kitchen- water you may have used to wash veg etc or save that cold water you get before it becomes hot and use that for the garden.
• Try not to cut the grass on lawns too often and let it grow a bit longer. But If it has turned brown it will come back with the rain.

Other jobs to do in the garden

• Collect seeds and label them.
• Sow annual seeds for next year in pots
• Dead head and cut back flowers that have gone over
• Sow hardy crops such as land cress, rocket and lamb's lettuce for winter pickings-water the soil first before sowing.
• Harvest fresh herbs to freeze in ice cubes for winter use, or to hang up and dry, then store in jars.

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