Your garden

YOUR GARDEN IN AUGUST

After the heat of July, the weather usually continues to be very nice giving us time to simply enjoy our gardens and all the hard work we’ve put into them. Don’t worry too much about doing endless jobs – just remember to keep everything watered. If you are going away, you may need to enlist the help of friends and family to look after the garden. If you are at home and feeling energetic, there are still a few gardening tasks for August that will keep your gardens going longer, as well as opportunities to get a head start on next year’s garden plans.

TAKE HERB CUTTING

August is the ideal month to take cuttings woody herbs such as Rosemary and Lavender.

To do this, simply take new growth that hasn’t flowered this year cut a piece 10cm long just below a leaf joint, remove the lower leaves and dip the end in a rooting hormone before planting in a gritty compost. If you have lavender in the garden, now is also the ideal time to give it a trim. This will encourage new bushy growth in the spring and will prevent it becoming bare and woody.

PRUNING AND TIDYING

Most long flowering perennials will finish flowering this month so cut them down to the ground. Don’t forget about them though – continue to water them, as this will encourage a second flush of foliage and generally prevent the garden looking frazzled and messy. Although weeds will be growing more slowly now than in the spring it’s a good idea to continue to hoe the soil to keep them down.

Try to do this in warm, dry conditions to ensure weed seedlings you disturb are left on the surface to dehydrate and die.

MAKE PLANS FOR NEXT YEAR

A nice relaxing job for those hot days! Pull up a chair in a sunny spot and start planning for next year. Make sketches of your flower borders and vegetable plot and list what you want to plant.

LOOKING GOOD THIS MONTH..

Hydrangea Why should you plant them?

Hydrangeas are popular garden shrubs with delicate heads of flowers in shades of pink, white or blue. They are easy to care for, fully hardy and have an old fashioned, cottage style charm.

HOW SHOULD YOU PLANT THEM?

Hydrangeas like moist, free draining soil and a partially shaded sheltered spot.

Take photos of your garden now while it is looking its best – if you want to rearrange in the winter its much easier to do if you have a reference point. Also think about what bulbs you want to plant for that early display of spring colour – bulbs are usually available to buy from the end of August ready for autumn planting.

HOROSCOPES

Aquarius Jan 20 - Feb 18 You may need to do a little bit of reflecting and thinking about what you would like to clear within your own space. This could be on the physical level, although it feels very much like it could be more on the emotional. Clearing and releasing things can make way for new things and ideas, and opportunities to come your way. Maybe reflect on things that you may not realise that you have learnt, or maybe on things that you would like to change. Keywords. Clearing, reflecting, and opportunities

Pisces Feb 19 - Mar 20

It seems as though it could be a good time to slow down, take a deep breath and step back, and do an overview of things you are involved with. It maybe time for a few changes, so give yourself time to do this and work with your intuition. Friends and family are highlighted for you at this time. Gatherings of different kinds also seem to be quite prominent, remember to use your energy wisely, as you can have a tendency to take on too much. Keywords. Overview and use your energy wisely

Aries Mar 21 - Apr 19

Seems to be a few obstacles and hold-ups for you at the moment, try not to stress over them but try and re-organise stuff so that things are easier to deal with. Once you have done this, you may find other things fall into place a lot easier, and other plans come to fruition. Changes can sometimes seem a little daunting, but try and be open to them, as they can be really wonderful and bring good opportunities. Keywords, overcome obstacles and embracing change Maybe you’re someone who collects things and it may have come to a point where it may be wise to go through collectibles and rearrange them or even maybe give some away. It may not just be items that you hang onto, so maybe do a little clearing and shifting on the physical as well as within yourself. Clearing things always makes space for new ideas on new things, and sometimes brings new opportunities. Keywords. Clearing, reorganising, and changes

Taurus Apr 20 - May 20

Gemini May 21 - June 20

Looks as though there could be some opportunities due to come your way. A lot of things have been held up, and a few ideas have had to of been on hold. Things are beginning to shift for you now so be on the lookout for new opportunities, and a renewed feeling of renewal. Keywords. renewal and opportunities.

Cancer June 21 - July 22

Friends and activities are highlighted at this time, along with new people and or new ideas. This could well bring you some interesting changes, and may bring you some opportunities that you don’t expect. Keywords. New things or ideas

Leo July 23 - Aug 22

There could be some tricky situations you may have to deal with, and communication skills would be very useful at this time. Trust your intuition in this matter, and follow what feels right especially if you have one of those moments when the words seem to come to you for a brilliant idea comes to mind to resolve the problem or issue. Keywords. Communication and intuitiones Scorpio Oct 23 - Nov 21

It maybe you have one of those moments where something becomes a strong realisation, it may be something that has been eluding you for awhile. Whatever this is it’s something positive, which could mean looking after yourself a bit more than you have been. Sometimes we neglect small things like giving ourselves some you time. Keywords .changes and opportunities

Virgo Aug 23 - Sept 22

Your social scene is beginning to improve, as is those of people you are close to. Try not to be overprotective, and also if possible bring your sensitivity to the fore, this may be something you don’t often do, but sometimes flexibility and sensitivity can be strong attributes. Keywords. Protection, sensitivity and flexibilit

Things are finally beginning to shift for you in many areas. You may feel that some things have been neglected and need to be sorted, if this is the case now could be a good time to do so. Don’t give yourself a hard time, you are not someone who has to do everything or do it all in one go, give yourself some space, and take your time remember flexibility can be useful, and don’t take too much on if you can help it. Keywords. Sort things out and be flexible. Sagittarius Nov 22 - Dec 21

It is very likely that things have been feeling a bit stagnant at the moment, with our present circumstances that’s not really surprising, but it seems as though things are beginning to feel that they are moving again for you. Communication is highlighted at this time, try and be as clear and concise as you can so as to avoid misunderstandings. Keywords. Communication and clarity.

Libra Sept 23 - Oct 22

Capricorn Dec 22 - Jan 19

There seems to have been a few complicated issues around you at the moment, try and sort them as quickly as you can as there could be opportunities coming your way that you may not see. Try not to get stressed or worried and anxious, try and do things that keep you calm and remember laughter is a great tension reliever. Without disregarding others, make sure you do a few things for yourself That you enjoy. keywords. Opportunities, and look after yourself

Forecasted by Marie Hayward

Disclaimer This zodiac is for entertainment purposes only please do not take the predictions seriously Marie take no responsibility for your actions