August is usually one of the warmest and driest months of the year, with this year’s changeable weather, we are all a bit unsure as to how our garden will grow this season.
For longevity and permanent planting, we often advise that perennials are the way to go to ensure a colourful display. Their longevity means that you save money and energy on planting new plants each season, whilst their denser and stronger roots system can penetrate deep intro the soil and can tolerate dry spells. A favourite perennial for August is the Dahlia, having experienced a revival recently, the Dahlia is back with a bang and has the multitude of colours and varieties to prove it! Dahlias have a fascinating history and were first documented in the early 1500’s by their Mexican name, acoctili. However, it wasn’t until 1789, when botanist and priest Antonio José Cavanilles published the first descriptions and drawings of three specific dahlia species. Seeds and tubers from these dahlias were sent to botanists throughout Europe in the early 1800s. Their first notable fan was Marie Antoinette who famously fell in love with the stem.
The first dahlias raised in Europe were single, open-centred flowers, and horticulturalists soon discovered that when grown from seed, dahlias naturally hybridise, changing their shape and colour. Double dahlias were first bred in Germany in 1808 and soon growers were selecting for specific traits. By 1820 around 100 dahlia varieties had been cultivated, this number has kept growing and we now have over 20 000 cultivars listed!
It is now known that indigenous people in South America used dahlias as a source of food for centuries, and the Aztecs believed them to be a cure for epilepsy and used the long hollow stems of certain types as water pipes. Back in Europe, dahlias became the favourite flower of the court of Queen Victoria, and it’s during this time that the beauty of the stem inspired great symbolic meaning to express personal sentiments of commitment, grace under pressure, and elegance, a meaning that is still associated with dahlias today.
Some of the most dazzling dahlias are the cactus types. Cactus and Semi-Cactus Dahlias bloom from late June until the first frost, providing an extended season of interest in the garden. With their spiky blooms and star-like shapes, they make excellent cut flowers. Most dahlias make excellent cut flowers, the more you cut them, the more flowers they produce! They thrive in well-drained, fertile soil and full sun, and they benefit from regular deadheading to encourage continuous blooming. Because of the complex flowers, most dahlias are not popular with pollinators, so its good to include some single flower dahlias if you can. For simple prettiness, the dahlia 'Magenta Star' with its vivid magenta pink flowers with a dark centre ringed with yellow-gold. Its dark bronze foliage provides a dramatic and contrasting backdrop for the bright flowers.
Jobs in the August Garden
It’s the last official month of summer! Being peak holiday season and one of the driest months its important to ensure ponds and birdbaths are topped up regularly to ensure your local wildlife has access to water. Containers and pots should be watered once a day, preferably early morning.
• Water evergreen shrubs like camellias and rhododendrons regularly as they are forming next year’s spring buds.
• Dead head summer bedding plants and perennials plants to prolong the flower display. Feed and water containers regularly.
• Trim lavender plants after they have finished flowering.
• Cut the lawn on a higher blade height if the weather is dry so reducing stress.
• Water tomato plants evenly, as inconsistent watering can lead to black patches on the base of fruits – known as blossom end rot. Feed with tomato food and pinch out the tops of plants once 4 or 5 trusses have formed.
• Pinch out the tips of climbing beans and runner beans when they reach the top of their supports. This focuses energy on producing good crops of beans.
• Lift and dry onions, shallots and garlic now.
• Cut back herbs to encourage a new flush of tasty leaves that you can harvest before the first frosts. Dry or freeze excess herbs to use in the kitchen throughout the autumn and winter.
. Make sure to spend time sitting back and simply enjoying your beautiful garden!
