by Mark Evans

August is named in honour of Caesar Augustus, Rome’s first emperor. The Latin root augere means ‘to increase’ or ‘to make great’, which are fitting terms for both the emperor and this month’s garden tasks. August is a time for quiet, powerful, behind-the-scenes work that prepares your patch for the vibrant season ahead. While the garden might seem dormant, there is a lot happening under the surface and plenty that you can do to support the coming surge of growth.

P is for prune. Almost everything in the garden can be pruned right now: roses, perennials, shrubs, deciduous trees, ornamental grasses, the whole lot. All your plants are getting ready to burst forth with a flush of new spring growth, so hop in now before that happens. A good prune helps shape plants, encourages healthy branching and ensures that no energy is wasted on scraggly or wayward growth. Cut back spent growth, remove any dead or damaged wood, and think about the overall shape you’d like the plant to take in spring.

P is for prepare. This is the month to really feed your soil. Enrich garden beds with compost, manure or worm castings, anything that adds life and nutrients. Topping up mulch is also worthwhile, helping to conserve moisture, suppress weeds and support soil organisms as temperatures begin to rise. Don’t forget to fertilise your plants and pots in preparation for the upcoming growth spurt of citrus, roses, lawns – they’ll all benefit. It’s also the right time to spray stone-fruit trees for peach leaf curl. Do it before the buds start to open, timing is crucial. Once the fungus gets in, you’re stuck with it for the season.

P is for planting. August is ideal for putting in new trees, shrubs and perennials. The soil’s still cool, but roots will begin to establish, giving the plant a strong head start before spring really gets going. Bare-rooted fruit trees, roses and ornamental shrubs are available now and offer great value. They’re cheaper than potted specimens and often grow faster once planted. It’s also the best time to repot your pot plants or to shift things around in the garden. If you need to move a plant to a better spot, do it now. A corresponding prune will reduce stress on the root system.

In the vegie patch, cool season crops still reign supreme. Think peas, broad beans, leeks, onions, shallots, rocket, lettuce, spinach and silverbeet. Don’t overlook the humble radish, it’s one of the fastest-growing vegies, ready in just over three weeks. And if you’re growing spuds, now’s the time to chit your seed potatoes: place them in egg cartons on a sunny windowsill and let them develop short, strong shoots ready for planting later in the month.

If you have any comments, gardening questions or plant or pest identification problems, please send them through to gardening@thetriangle.org.au and we will get back to you personally.

Happy growing.