A U G U S T

Re-pot or top-dress container grown plants.

Scarify rhizomatous lawns (e.g. kikuyu) to remove the thatch (dead grass material).

Fertilize with 2-3-2 (22) and spread a light layer of lawn dressing evenly over the surface, and apply a light watering. First cut when leaves are 20 mm in height.

Complete pruning on summer and autumn flowering shrubs. Remove any dead branches on ornamental trees.

Fertilize winter flowering annuals with a fertilizer high in potassium e.g. 2-3-2 (22) to prolong flowering and dead-head the annuals to ensure they keep producing blooms.

Start fertilizing perennials and increase frequency of irrigation as temperatures start warming.

Dead-head the flowers of bulbs which have finished flowering and fertilize every 2 weeks with 3-1-5 (26). Leave the foliage to die down naturally.

Towards the later part of the month plant summer flowering bulbs e.g. Amaryllis, Nerines, Galtonia and Dahlia’s.

Summer flowering annuals may also be sown in protected areas.

Divide and re-plant herbaceous perennials.