Gardening In Perth In August

August 4, 2014 Gardening Gals Uncategorized

The days are finally starting to become longer and there is plenty of gardening to do in the Perth garden in August as we get ready for spring.

Vegies to plant in August include: beetroot, cabbage, carrots, lettuce, onion, parsnip, peas, silverbeet, artichoke, potato and rhubarb.

Flowers to plant in August include: marigold, begonia, carnation, gazania, nasturtium, dianthus and statice.

August is a great time to attend to the following tasks in the Perth garden:

• Harvest citrus fruit daily. Over ripe fruit will become dry
• Shape deciduous trees while you can see their framework
• Occasionally wipe the leaves of your indoor plants with a damp cloth to remove dust. It will help the plant to breathe better
• Pick pears while a little unripe and allow to ripen in the fridge or at room temperature
• After flowering, prune poinsettia below waist height. Wear gloves and eye protection as the sap can burn
• After harvesting broccoli, leave the plant in the ground as smaller heads will shoot (similar to broccolini)
• Give your garden soil a moisture test by digging a hole a spade’s depth and checking if water has penetrated to root level. If not, apply a soil wetting agent
• Discourage cats from digging in your garden by planting citrus perfumed plants such as lemon verbena and lime scented geraniums
• Harvest fruit regularly from avocado trees. If left too long, the tree could end up cropping every 2 years instead of annually
• To help train climbers up poles, tie them on loosely with plastic ties
• Plant comfrey near your compost and add leaves to your heap. They are rich in nutrients and break down quickly
• If your dog loves to chew plants, ensure the following toxic plants are not around – aloe vera, daffodil, lily, sago palm, tulip and yesterday, today and tomorrow

Enjoy your time in your Perth garden in August.