Gardening Tips for August: A Month of Transition and Preparation for Autumn
August can feel like a turning point in the garden. Some crops are starting to fade, others are peaking, and it’s time to think ahead while managing the heat. Whether you have integrated biochar into your soil or not, there’s still plenty to do to keep your garden healthy, productive, and ready for the season ahead.
What can be done in the garden with biochar in August
Blend Biochar into Cleared Beds
When you clear out tired plants, take the opportunity to dig in biochar—especially in areas that will rest or grow fall crops. It improves soil aeration, microbial life, and nutrient retention for the months ahead.
Biochar Boost for Brassicas
Fall brassicas can be heavy feeders. Add biochar blended with compost or organic fertiliser (or better still use our inoculated biochar) when planting them to improve nutrient uptake and root development as they get established.
Enrich Perennial Beds
Add biochar around the base of perennial herbs, shrubs, or berry plants as a top dressing. Over time, rain and watering will pull nutrients deeper, improving long-term soil structure.
Amend Lawn and Path Edges
Dry lawns and compacted path edges benefit from a little love too. Work biochar into the soil in these neglected areas to improve water infiltration and reduce runoff.
Supercharge Your Compost Pile
As you tidy up plant waste this month, layer in some biochar with green (fresh plant) and brown (dry leaves or straw) materials. It helps control moisture, reduces odour, and improves the final compost’s nutrient-holding capacity.
Other jobs to do in the garden in August
Tidy Up the Garden
August is ideal for clearing out tired plants, deadheading flowers, and removing fallen fruit or debris. Tidying now helps reduce the spread of pests and disease, and keeps the garden productive and manageable.
Side-Dress Plants with Compost or Organic Fertiliser
Give long-season crops like tomatoes a late-summer boost by side-dressing with compost or a balanced organic fertiliser. This helps them power through the last leg of their growing cycle.
Prune Overgrown Herbs
Herbs like basil, coriander, and mint may be getting leggy. Trim them back to encourage new growth and prevent them from going to seed. Dry or freeze the trimmings to use later in the year.
Start Brassicas and Overwintering Crops
Now’s the last opportunity to sow seed for fall brassicas like cabbage, cauliflower, and brussels sprouts. You can also sow overwintering crops like garlic, onions, and spinach later in the month, moving into September.
Plan & Prep for Cover Crops
If you're wrapping up some areas for the season, consider sowing a cover crop like clover to prevent erosion and enrich your soil over the winter.
August may feel like the garden’s last hurrah, but it’s really a month of transition. What you do now—feeding, clearing, planting, or amending—can set the stage for a bountiful fall and a healthier garden next year. With or without biochar, these small steps go a long way. Let your soil breathe, your plants thrive, and your fall crops get a head start.
