The Garden House Tasks for August
Posted:6 August 2025
The good news is…there are not too many tasks on our ‘to do’ this month!
Please bear in mind these tasks are not a comprehensive look at all garden aspects, but relate directly to our monthly work in the Garden House garden, inspiring and teaching the volunteers, students and Friday group gardeners who get stuck in and support the development of this unique Brighton garden.
- Collect seeds from Aquilegia and sweet peas, plus any annuals that have gone over, Nigella, Ammi, Cornflowers etc for sowing later this year or next.
- Prune Wisteria if you haven’t already done so – you will need to do it again in January or February.
- Prune Lavender – if the bees have lost interest – if not wait a little and remove all new growth to just above the old wood. You can do this with other shrubby herbs – this stops them getting too leggy and gives them a good shape.
- Lightly prune Cistus to stop it becoming leggy and then use the prunings for cuttings. Again don’t cut into the old wood.
- Water Camellias as they will be making their buds for next year so help them to give you good flowers next year.
- Prune espalier apples – cut back sideshoots to three or four leaves per side shoot.
- Prune back rambling roses – pruning back flowering stems by a third and tie in any wayward branches.
- Feed and water pots and deadhead.
- Cut down any wildflowers in stages – this ensures diversity in the garden.
- Pinch out or cut back Chrysanthemums.
- Stake Dahlias and any other plants that are flopping such as Asters.
- Cut back herbs such as Mint, Chives and Oregano to stop them getting woody.
- Sow Parsley, Basil and Chervil.
- Sow lettuces, but don’t forget they don’t like it too hot so keep them in the coolest part of the greenhouse until they germinate.
- Begin looking at bulb catalogues and think about your spring display – we have a cutting and sticking method here that we use which works well – cut out the bulbs you like from a catalogue and plan your containers – it’s great fun!
And finally, enjoy these lovely summer days…