Garden tips in August

Cotswold Country Flowers in August

Biennials: plant out June-sown biennials such as honesty, sweet rocket, sweet William and foxglove. If you’re lucky you may be able to source some plug plants

• Hardy annuals: order and sow some hardy annuals now and plant out at the end of Sept/Oct for bigger, stronger plants at the start of next summer.

• Propagation: take semi-ripe cuttings such as lavender, bay and rosemary.

• Bulbs: order bulbs such as narcissi, alliums and tulips, and keep them cool and dark until ready for planting at the end of September (tulips at the end of November).

• Housekeeping: start clearing hardy annual beds and mulch with homemade compost or well-rotted manure. I cover mine with old carpet or reused tarpaulin, but you could direct sow them with a green manure such as phacelia instead.