AUGUST IN THE GARDEN.

TOP TIPS FOR CREATIVE GARDENERS.

August - the time for holidays and harvesting – but, there are still plenty of jobs to do in the garden, especially if you are planning on leaving it for a couple of weeks to go on holiday. Below are some of the more important jobs to do in your garden this month and some quick links to everything you’ll need to make them easier!

Remember, we deliver to your door so no added transport and fuel bills to worry about and no carrying heavy and cumbersome items from the garden centre!

Holiday Check List

If you are going on a well deserved holiday this month here are some quick tips on what to do before you leave your garden. Firstly, if possible try and get a neighbour or friend to harvest your vegetables for you and, in return for watering them, let them keep a few for themselves! This month courgettes, cucumbers, peas, corn and French and runner beans as well as your precious tomatoes need regular harvesting to encourage the plants to produce further cropping and to ensure that harvested veg is tender.

Before you leave, make sure containers of plants and shrubs in full or partial sunlight are moved into the shade, a mulch is applied and that they are well watered.

Provide support well in advance for peas, beans, tomatoes and sweetcorn.

Make mowing the lawn your last job and do not forget to lock garden sheds.

Lastly, make sure you pack your sun cream and have a good holiday!

LOVELY LAWNS.

During August, don't cut your lawn too short, it will survive the hot dry weather much better if it is a little longer. An ideal height is about 3cm (just over an inch) and, if necessary, keep feeding it to protect against heat. Our range of Lawn Care Products will make these jobs easier and are all available here on site.

KEEP ON MULCHING…………..

Try and keep all bare soil in your garden well covered either with plants or use mulches on the surface. Look out for our range of Garden Care Products including Eco-Friendly and Peat Free products that not only do your garden good but also help the environment at the same time. And, always remember, that by using our free delivery service there’s no more carrying heavy bags of mulches and composts to and from your car!

“EVERY MAN SHOULD HAVE A SHED”

Whether it’s for putting you feet up and listening to “Test Match Special” or for masterminding the latest assault on your garden – every man needs a garden shed. And we have lots to choose from – whether it is a small compact storage chest or a large apex and tongue and groove model - the choice is endless. And August is the perfect time to purchase one – to lock your tools and equipment away when you go on holiday or to start organising them for the winter ahead or even to escape the children for a few hours!

SUNNY AFTERNOONS AND WHAT TO DO WITH THEM...

With the hopefully, warmer weather now here and the children on their long summer holidays the problem of keeping them amused is one faced by families across the country – to help we have introduced a number of new and innovative Play Equipment, including Trampolines, Sandpits and a range of Activity Centres designed especially for younger children to play and have fun safely in the garden. For the more adventurous there’s even a highly competitively priced Swimming Pool, which includes a solar water heater, pump, sand filter and a thermal cover!

WHAT’S COOKING?

August is the BBQ month – so please remember to order early, as our range of BBQs, and Charcoals are very popular! This year we have added a number of new products to this range including Barrel and Kettle BBQ’s as well as a range of larger stone BBQs. We also stock a wide range of gas fired BBQs as well.

Charcoal comes in a wide variety of bag sizes for both Supagrill Lumpwood and Briquette charcoal as well as Supagrill Firelighters, Quickfire Smokeless Fuel and Real Wood Logs.

Also look out for our range of Patio Heaters, Firepits and Braziers, ideal for prolonging the long summer evenings ahead keeping you warm well into the night! These are again proving very popular so be sure to place your order sooner rather than later. A wide range of fuel to keep them burning is of course, from the country’s leading solid fuel supplier, readily available!

WHAT’S HAPPENING ON YOUR PATCH?

The vegetable garden should be at its peak in August and is usually the time of maximum harvesting with everything ripening in the late summer sunshine -hopefully! Salad crops – lettuces, radishes etc can be both harvested and sown and there will be an abundance of runner and dwarf beans ready for picking. There are also plenty of potatoes left for cooking or storing for the winter months and now is also a good time to think about sowing out chard, spinach and turnips. Tomatoes should also be in plentiful supply. Remember before replanting with winter vegetables to dig beds over well and put some Peat Free Soil Conditioner to provide added nutrients. Enjoy whatever bounty that this month brings and be sure to store your vegetables correctly to prolong their life.

KEEP ON COMPOSTING…

Continue composting brown and green material in a 50:50 ratio. Add grass clippings to speed up the decomposition process. Remember to keep the heap covered to retain moisture. If further composting space is needed take a look at our compact Compost Bin, easy to assemble, this robust composter has a 27cu ft capacity, a weather protective cover and easy access for retrieving your compost.

THIS BIT IS IMPORTANT...

However, most importantly, August is a time for sitting back and enjoying your garden and all that hard work you have put in. Relax in your deckchair, put your

feet up and listen to the birds singing and the insects buzzing!

Finally, there are a number of gardening events taking place in August that will be well worth a look at. National Allotments Week is being held from 14th- 20th August when allotments across the country will be open to the public – great for getting some good ideas for your own patch as well as encouraging the children to take an interest in growing their own! Also, if you are in the area, from 21st – 24th August it is The Southport Flower Show. This show combines a seaside atmosphere with a celebration of all that is best from the gardening world. It is the largest independent flower show in the country and attracts up to 100,000 visitors over 4 days each year.