Essential Tips for Gardening in August

August might not be peak planting season in the UK, but it plays a pivotal role in preparing your garden for what’s ahead. With lingering warmth in the soil and plenty of daylight, it’s an excellent time to enrich your soil, enhance pollinator support, and introduce striking end-of-summer interest.

In this guide, we’ll cover key August gardening tasks, including soil preparation, sowing green manure, scattering seedballs, planting container-grown trees, and pruning summer growth. You’ll also find tree recommendations with late summer interest, container planting tips, wildlife-friendly advice, and a round-up of seasonal jobs to keep your garden healthy and productive.

Whether you're refreshing tired borders or planning structural planting for the months ahead, your August efforts will set the stage for a vibrant and resilient outdoor space this autumn and beyond.

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Planting for August

While August isn’t typically a heavy planting month, it’s one of the best times to prepare your garden for the new season. Whether you’re refreshing tired borders or preparing for autumn tree planting, small tasks now can make a big difference later.

Prepare for Autumn Tree Planting

August is ideal for getting your soil ready before the bare-root planting season begins. Start by choosing suitable sites that offer enough space, sunlight, and protection from harsh weather. Improve the soil by adding well-rotted compost or manure to boost fertility and structure.

If your soil is heavy or poorly drained, mix in horticultural grit or sand to prevent waterlogging. For those planning to plant ornamental trees such as Flowering Plum 'Spring Glow' (Prunus cerasifera 'Spring Glow') or native hedging, now is the time to amend the soil and test the pH if needed.

Smaller outdoor spaces can benefit from compact trees in pots or beds. A great example is the Compact Crab Apple 'Aros' (Malus toringo 'Aros'), which provides colour, structure and seasonal interest while supporting wildlife.

Sow Green Manure

If your vegetable beds are now empty after summer harvesting, sowing green manure is a simple way to improve soil health ahead of autumn. Quick-growing options like clover, mustard or phacelia grow quickly and enhance soil structure while preventing weeds from taking over.

Rake the soil to a fine tilth, scatter your chosen seeds, and water well. Cut down the plants just before flowering and dig them into the soil. Allow them a few weeks to decompose before planting trees or shrubs in the same area.

To learn more about green manures, read the RHS guide to green manures

Add Late-Season Colour with Seedballs

For a low-effort burst of pollinator-friendly blooms, August is a great time to scatter wildflower Seedball mixes. These pre-mixed balls contain native seeds, clay, and compost for easy growing. Simply scatter them onto bare soil or containers and let nature take over.

The Bee Mix supports native pollinators with species like red clover and birdsfoot trefoil, while the Sky Meadow introduces soft blue hues ideal for pots and borders. Prefer something practical as well as pretty? The Herb Mix includes parsley, coriander, and chives — ideal for both bees and your kitchen.

These small additions bring colour, biodiversity, and easy success to your garden in late summer.

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Cultivating a Wildlife-Friendly Garden

Late summer is an important time to support wildlife in your garden. With many birds, bees, and insects preparing for autumn, even small efforts can make a big difference. August is a great month to focus on providing food, shelter, and pollinator-friendly planting.

Support Pollinators with Wildflower Planting

As summer blooms begin to fade, planting for pollinators becomes even more important. Native wildflowers provide essential nectar sources for bees and butterflies during late summer and early autumn.

You can encourage long-lasting blooms with easy-to-use wildflower mixes like the Seedball Hedgehog Mix, which supports biodiversity and offers cover for ground-dwelling wildlife. For a cooler-toned palette, the Seedball Shade Mix is perfect for shadier spots where other flowers may struggle to thrive.

To plan for the longer term, plant ornamental trees that offer seasonal interest and habitat value. The Golden Elder 'Golden Tower' (Sambucus nigra 'Golden Tower') has elegant foliage and a tall, columnar shape that birds love for shelter. Another striking option is the Black Elder 'Black Beauty' (Sambucus nigra 'Black Beauty'), which adds deep colour to borders while supporting pollinators with its summer flowers.

Provide Water and Natural Cover

Access to fresh water is vital in August. Place shallow dishes in your borders or near wildlife-friendly plants, and top them up regularly during dry spells.

Dense, multi-purpose shrubs and trees offer essential hideaways and safe nesting spaces for birds and insects. The Compact Winged Spindle (Euonymus alatus 'Compactus') offers vivid red autumn foliage and a compact form ideal for smaller gardens. You could also add Willow-Leaved Cotoneaster 'Rothschildianus' (Cotoneaster salicifolius 'Rothschildianus'), which produces bright berries for birds and retains year-round structure.

For an extra wildlife boost, leave a small area untamed with longer grass, a few stacked logs, or a pile of dry twigs to create a safe habitat for hedgehogs and insects alike.

Learn how to turn your garden into a haven for birds, hedgehogs, bees, and other wildlife with the Devon Wildlife Trust’s guide to wildlife gardening

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Late Summer Tree Planting

Although bare root planting season begins in autumn, August is still an excellent time to plant container-grown trees. With warm soil and consistent rainfall, roots establish quickly before the cooler months arrive.

Here are six trees that bring structure, colour, and wildlife value to your garden this time of year:

Elder

Sambucus nigra 'Golden Tower' (Golden Elder) is an upright, columnar elder with bright golden foliage and frothy summer flowers. Adds vertical impact, pollinator support, and vivid late-season colour.

Magnolia

Magnolia grandiflora (Southern Magnolia) is an evergreen magnolia with large, fragrant, creamy-white flowers blooming from late summer. Its glossy leaves add structure year-round in sheltered gardens.

Hazel

Hazel (Corylus avellana) is a multi-stemmed native tree with wildlife value throughout the year. It produces edible nuts in late summer and early autumn, while its dense form provides excellent shelter for birds and beneficial insects.

Sweetgum

Sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua) is a striking tree known for its glossy, star-shaped leaves that begin to turn rich shades of red, orange, and purple in late summer, continuing into autumn. It’s an excellent choice for structural impact and seasonal colour.

Pearl Bush

Exochorda serratifolia 'Snow White' (Pearl Bush 'Snow White') produces a mass of long-lasting white blooms that resemble pearls in early to late summer. Perfect for adding brightness and shape to borders.

Yew

Taxus baccata 'Fastigiata Robusta' (Upright English Yew) A dense, architectural evergreen with narrow upright growth. Provides year-round structure and produces bright red berries in autumn that attract birds.

Planting for Lasting Impact

The August garden offers an excellent chance to refine your outdoor layout before autumn arrives. By planting ornamental trees now, you can enjoy glossy foliage, late blooms, and early autumn berries, followed by evergreen form or fiery colour that carries through the colder seasons.

Whether you're filling a border, adding vertical interest, or supporting local wildlife, planting in August gives your trees time to settle in while the soil is still warm. Many ornamental species offer multi-season benefits, from summer flowers and autumn foliage to winter berries and year-round cover for birds and insects.

Planting during this seasonal transition isn’t just about short-term appeal. It’s a way to establish form, provide cooling shade, and build long-lasting garden character that will continue to reward you year after year.

Container Tree Planting Tips

If you're short on space or want to add seasonal interest to patios, entrances, or courtyards, container planting is a fantastic option. Many compact ornamental trees will thrive in pots with the right setup and care.

Choose a large, sturdy container with drainage holes and fill it with a peat-free, soil-based compost. Raise the container slightly off the ground using feet or bricks to promote good airflow and avoid waterlogging. Incorporate a slow-release fertiliser at planting time and top with mulch to help retain moisture.

Keep newly planted trees well-watered in dry spells, and position them in a sheltered, sunny location for best results. With a little care, container-grown trees bring flexibility, beauty, and structure to even the smallest outdoor spaces.

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Managing Garden Maintenance

With the height of summer fading, August is the perfect time to carry out essential maintenance tasks that will keep your outdoor space healthy and vibrant into autumn.

Prioritise Watering and Mulching

Late summer heat can leave trees and shrubs under stress. Prioritise watering newly planted or shallow-rooted trees, and focus on early mornings or evenings to minimise evaporation. Mulching around the base of plants with compost or bark helps retain moisture and suppress weeds, essential during dry spells.

If you haven’t already, consider installing water butts to collect rainwater ahead of autumn showers. Using harvested water is not only sustainable, but it also helps reduce reliance on the mains supply during hot weather.

For guidance on when and how much to water, the RHS offers great advice on effective garden watering methods.

Prune Summer Growth

August is a good time to lightly prune summer-flowering shrubs once they’ve finished blooming. Remove any dead, damaged, or crossing stems to encourage strong growth and a tidy structure going into autumn.

Evergreen hedges like Cherry Laurel ‘Rotundifolia‘ (Prunus laurocerasus ‘Rotundifolia‘) or Portuguese Laurel 'Myrtifolia' (Prunus lusitanica 'Myrtifolia') can also benefit from a light trim now. Shaping them in August allows any cuts to heal before cooler weather sets in.

For tips on choosing evergreen hedging, Explore our top evergreen hedge species

Clear Spent Annuals and Tidy Borders

As borders start to fade, remove spent annuals and cut back perennials that have finished flowering. This improves airflow, prevents disease, and makes room for autumn planting.

If any areas of your garden are looking tired or empty, now’s a great opportunity to plan for structural planting using ornamental trees or shrubs that bring year-round interest.

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Your August Gardening Round-Up

August is far more than a wind-down to summer — it’s a month of quiet opportunity. While the days may be getting shorter, your gardening goals are far from finished.

Use this time to prepare your soil for autumn tree planting, divide overgrown clumps, and give your hedges a smart trim. It’s also an ideal month to add structural shrubs, prune flowering plants, and refresh containers for an early-autumn boost. And don’t forget to keep supporting wildlife with water, shelter, and pollinator-friendly planting.

Whether you're sowing seeds for future colour, harvesting fragrant herbs, or planning your next ornamental tree, your August efforts will set the stage for vibrant, healthy growth into autumn and beyond.

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FAQs

What can I plant in the UK in August?

August is an excellent time to plant container-grown trees and shrubs, as the soil is still warm and easy to work. Late-summer flowering trees like Syringa meyeri ‘Palibin’ (Dwarf Korean Lilac) or Magnolia grandiflora provide ornamental value now and long into autumn. It’s also a great month to plant evergreen hedging and start preparing your space for autumn tree planting. Browse our container-grown trees for summer structure.

Can I plant a tree in late summer?

Yes, container-grown trees can be planted in late summer as long as you keep them well-watered. Trees such as Corylus avellana (Hazel) and Liquidambar styraciflua (Sweetgum) are excellent choices for planting in August, offering structure and wildlife interest. Explore our ornamental tree collection to find the perfect match.

Is August too late to prune my hedges?

Not at all! August is a great time to give your evergreen hedging a light trim to keep it in shape before autumn growth. You can also tidy deciduous hedges, especially if you haven’t pruned them since spring.

Should I mulch in August?

Mulching in August helps conserve soil moisture during dry spells and suppresses weeds. It also prepares the soil for autumn planting. Apply an organic mulch around shrubs, trees, or herbaceous perennials — just avoid piling it too close to plant stems or trunks.

Can I still sow wildflowers and herbs in August?

Yes, though it’s getting late in the season, you can still sow hardy wildflowers for autumn germination or get quick crops from fast-growing herbs. Alternatively, plant pre-grown herb pots in containers for instant results. Look at our herb kits for easy planting ideas.

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