irrigation – Charlton and Blackheath Amateur Horticultural Society

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.

Fallen leaves can make an immediate mulch over damp ground, August 2026 — Impromptu mulch after watering

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.

Pat’s 10 jobs for July 2026

1. Maybe in this challenging weather the best thing you can do is mulch the soil (after watering, so that the soil is moist and the mulch will retain that moisture). If you pull out weeds leave them on the surface to keep roots cool, use grass clippings if you have them but making sure to keep away from stems of plants.

2. To save water just water around the roots of plants by removing roses on watering cans and spray attachments on hoses.

Salvia 'Peach Parfait' — Salvias (‘Peach Parfait’, ‘Nachtvlinder’ and ‘Amistad’)

Salvia 'Nachtvlinder' — Salvias (‘Peach Parfait’, ‘Nachtvlinder’ and ‘Amistad’)