August Gardening in the West of Ireland
12 Garden Jobs to Do This Month
August in the west of Ireland can be a wonderfully productive time in the garden. While we might not always get the long, hot summers enjoyed elsewhere, the combination of mild temperatures, plenty of moisture and long daylight hours means that plants can continue growing strongly.
The challenge is that our gardens are also dealing with heavy showers, strong winds, damp foliage and the occasional spell of sunshine that sends everything into overdrive!
So, rather than following a generic summer gardening checklist, here are 12 jobs that are particularly useful for gardens in the west of Ireland this August.
1. Keep harvesting your vegetables
August is harvest time, and vegetable gardens can really start producing.
Runner beans, French beans, courgettes, potatoes, carrots, beetroot, lettuce and herbs can all be ready to pick.
Pick vegetables regularly rather than allowing them to become oversized. Courgettes are especially notorious for turning into marrows seemingly overnight!
Regular harvesting also encourages many plants to continue producing.
2. Keep an eye on slugs and snails
The damp conditions we experience in the west of Ireland are ideal for slugs and snails.
Check around vulnerable plants, particularly after rainfall and during the evening. Young seedlings, lettuce, hostas and newly planted crops can be particularly attractive.
Rather than trying to keep every slug out of the garden, concentrate on protecting your most vulnerable plants and encourage natural predators such as frogs, birds and beetles.
3. Watch out for blight on tomatoes and potatoes
Damp, humid weather can create ideal conditions for fungal diseases such as potato and tomato blight.
Inspect foliage regularly for unusual brown or black patches and remove affected leaves promptly. Good airflow is important, so avoid allowing plants to become excessively crowded.
If you're growing tomatoes outdoors, keep an especially close eye on them during periods of unsettled, damp weather.
4. Don't automatically reach for the watering can
One advantage of gardening in the west of Ireland is that rainfall often does some of the watering for us!
Before watering, check the soil. Containers, hanging baskets and plants growing under cover still need regular watering, but plants growing directly in the ground may already have plenty of moisture.
During a dry spell, water deeply and thoroughly rather than giving plants a small amount every day.
5. Keep on top of weeds
Rain followed by warm weather is a recipe for weeds.
August is a good month to keep borders, vegetable beds and paths under control. Hoeing on a dry day can be particularly effective, while larger perennial weeds are best removed by hand.
Don't feel that every last weed has to disappear, though. Leaving some areas slightly wild can provide valuable food and shelter for insects and other wildlife.
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6. Deadhead flowers to keep them coming
Even with our changeable weather, many garden plants can continue flowering well into late summer.
Remove faded flowers from roses, dahlias, cosmos, sweet peas and other repeat-flowering plants. This encourages the plant to put its energy into producing more blooms.
August is also a great month to enjoy the flowers that thrive in our climate, particularly hydrangeas, fuchsias, hardy geraniums and many of the traditional cottage-garden favourites.
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7. Protect plants from strong winds
The west coast can experience some very blustery weather, even in August.
Check that taller plants, young trees and newly planted shrubs are properly supported. Stake plants that are beginning to lean and tie them loosely so that they have some movement without being damaged.
If you have plants in pots, consider moving vulnerable containers to a sheltered position before particularly windy weather arrives.
8. Sow some crops for autumn
There is still plenty of growing to be done.
August can be a useful time to sow salad leaves, spinach, radishes, spring onions and other suitable late-season crops. In a sheltered garden or with some protection, you can extend the growing season considerably.
The mild conditions in the west can be an advantage here, allowing some crops to continue growing well into autumn.
9. Take cuttings
August is a good time to take cuttings from many shrubs and tender plants.
Choose healthy, non-flowering shoots and take your cuttings using clean, sharp secateurs. Keep them somewhere sheltered and protected from drying winds while they establish.
It's an inexpensive way to produce new plants for the garden—and a great way to create more of a plant you particularly love.
10. Collect seeds from your favourite plants
As some flowers begin to finish, look out for developing seed heads.
Collect seeds on a dry day once they have matured, and store them somewhere cool and dry. Remember to label everything—you may think you'll remember what you've collected, but come spring you'll be glad you did!
Collecting your own seed is also a lovely way to gradually develop a garden that's suited to your particular conditions.
11. Start planning for autumn and spring
August is the perfect time to look critically at your borders.
Are there gaps that need filling? Are some plants struggling with the wet conditions? Would a sheltered corner benefit from a shrub or small tree?
Make notes now while you can still see exactly what worked and what didn't. When autumn arrives, you'll have a much clearer idea of what changes you want to make.
It's also time to start thinking about spring bulbs. Ordering and planting bulbs at the appropriate time in autumn will give you plenty of colour to look forward to after winter.
12. Make the most of the good days
Perhaps the most important August gardening job in the west of Ireland is to make the most of the weather when it behaves itself!
If the sun comes out, get outside. Harvest some vegetables, sit among the flowers, listen for the bees and enjoy the garden.
We may have to work around a few showers, but that's part of gardening here. The reward is a lush, green garden that can look spectacular throughout the summer.
August in the West of Ireland: Work With the Weather
Gardening in the west of Ireland is less about trying to create the conditions we wish we had and more about working with the conditions we've been given.
The rain keeps the garden growing, the mild temperatures extend the season and our relatively cool summers suit a surprisingly wide range of plants.
This August, concentrate on harvesting what you've grown, protecting plants from slugs, disease and wind, keeping flowers going and making a start on the seasons ahead.
And when the inevitable rainy afternoon arrives, take the opportunity to sit back with a cup of tea and admire the garden from the window!
Happy gardening.
