Gardens may be thriving in the sunshine, but August’s dry conditions are putting serious pressure on plants. Speaking on WLR’s Saturday Café, John McGuire of Maguire’s Garden Centre in Woodstown outlined the key jobs for gardeners this month – with water conservation top of the list.

McGuire says any watering should be done early in the morning or late at night to cut evaporation and give plants the best chance to absorb moisture. Use watering cans rather than hoses to focus on what really needs attention: hanging baskets, pots and window boxes, which may need watering daily in this weather. Sink or basin water can be reused on these containers once diluted.

Newly planted trees, shrubs and hedges – anything put in since February – may show stress through wilting or drooping leaves. McGuire recommends a deep soak once a week rather than light, frequent sprinkling, to drive roots down in search of water. Weeds should be removed to reduce competition, and mulching with bark or manure will help lock moisture into the soil.

Lawns can be protected by raising the mower height and even leaving clippings on the grass to shade the roots; the sward will recover once rain returns. In the veg patch, gardeners are urged to watch for potato blight, protect brassicas from white butterflies using netting or sprays, and keep tomatoes, cucumbers and peppers evenly watered to prevent problems like splitting.

For those planning ahead, August is also the time to prep for September lawn seeding and start looking at spring bulbs as they arrive in garden centres.

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