Pat’s 10 jobs for August 2026

1. To be honest we know at the moment with the drought and the heat this column will be about the few things you can do to keep things alive. I am sure we will all have losses along the way, but remember all is not lost and will mean new planting opportunities for next year.

2. If you have weeds growing (even they are struggling at the moment!), pull out and place around plants to help hold the moisture in the soil. Make sure the weeds haven’t gone to seed and, if they have, pull the seedheads off and dispose of them.

3. Mulch the soil with anything you have to hand: your own compost, fallen leaves (as there seem to be so many) but make sure the soil is damp first so you can help lock in the moisture.

4. Collect seeds as they have formed early, although I’ve noticed on some plants the seeds are extra small… we will have to wait and see what kind of plants they make next year.

5. Deadhead everything to keep plants going unless the seedheads are wanted for wildlife and/or because they look good.

6. Plant pots with drought tolerant plants to save endless watering and include succulents such as Sempervivum and Hylotelephium, Euphorbia, Salvia, Eryngium, Agapanthus, Oenothera lindheimeri (white gaura), Coreopsis, Echinops etc. as well as the usual lavender and rosemary. Make sure to top pots with gravel to keep the compost moist.

7. Tomatoes just love the hot weather but remove the lower leaves to allow the fruit to ripen and so the plants take up less moisture. Harvest regularly. If you pick fruit too early leave on a sunny window sill to ripen.

8. Sow some Autumn crops like pak choi, spinach, chard and winter lettuce. These can all be sown direct in damp seed drills.

9. Clean leaves out of ponds to avoid pollution and top up with water that has been left for a few days to allow the chlorine to disappate.

10. Don’t forget clean water in clean containers for birds and insects who are all pretty desperate by now.

Happy gardening all!

Pat K