August 2025
No need for a summer colour gap
In addition to the mass of summer bedding plants that spill from hanging baskets & containers, many shrubs and perennials really hit their stride during mid to late summer.
Hydrangea arborescens and paniculata are heavy with large pale blooms. The paniculatas starting to take on a tinge or more of pink over the next few weeks.
Highly aromatic English Lavender and Perovskia (Russian Sage) are awash with bees & butterflies.
The tropical-like flowers of Hibiscus syriacus open in succession over a prolonged period.
There’s plenty of perennials to inject your space with colour right up until the first frosts.
Bright prairie style plants with prominent centres such as Echinacea, Helenium & Rudbeckia.
Summer flowering alliums with multiple flowers per clump and attractive foliage.
Tall swaying stems of Gaura, Verbena and Crocosmia.
Half hardy Salvias such as ‘Amistad’ or ‘Hot Lips’.
Perennials such as Sedum, Japanese Anemone, Aster & Hesperantha will follow slightly later.
English lavender know how
During August, English Lavender flowers start to look grey and dried. The bees will probably have lost interest…now is the time to give it a good trim.
English Lavender can take quite a hard pruning and will last longer and look better for it in the long term. You will also create neat mounds which will add interesting frosted garden structure during winter.
You have probably heard that Lavender shouldn’t be pruned back into old wood and there is some truth in this….but cut it back further than you may think!
As you look closely into the older wood you will see tiny grey-green buds. It is safe to prune your lavender JUST ABOVE these shoots.