The Last of the Summer Wine!
August has arrived, and with it, the last rush to tend to the garden. This year, more than any other, feels like a very late summer. There are gaps in the garden I haven’t filled and neglected pots. With the back-to-school season approaching, it’s like the Sunday night dread. August always seems to require mental energy for organizing uniforms, books, stationery, and squeezing in a few last-minute day trips to make lasting memories.
I didn’t fill my pots at the front door with flowers this summer, but I plan to make up for it so they’ll look great for the all-important back-to-school photos. I prefer low-maintenance plants that don’t require too much work. Some reliable choices are Cordylines, Angel Wings, Pittosporums, and heathers, along with autumn Violas, Pansies, and Carnations.
August is also a time when I like to make changes in the garden and add new plants. If there’s something in your garden that you don’t like or feel is planted in the wrong spot, now is a great time to mark it for relocation or removal. This season, I removed about six overgrown shrubs that I no longer liked, including a neglected Potentilla that had become woody and a Lilac that never flowered much. Removing them has given me a clear space to work with.
The garden’s environment has changed too. The once-young beech tree is now a mature specimen, creating more shade. For these shadier areas, I’m considering low-growing perennials like Brunnera and Heuchera, which will cover the ground and reduce weeding. Look at your own garden over the past few years. Are there areas that have changed due to growing trees? Have some plants disappeared because they didn’t like their new conditions? Often, it’s not our fault when plants don’t thrive; it’s usually the changing environment.
Dates for Your Calendar
- Sunday, September 1st – Dog Show and Vintage Fair with Farmers Market
- Garden Club Meeting – August 15th at 11 am
As always, if you need help picking the best plants for your garden, just give me a shout. I’m always happy to help.
Rockbarton is open Monday to Saturday from 10 am to 5 pm, with coffee and toasted gourmet sandwiches available.
Lynda
