Things to be getting on with the garden this week…

August is the best time to take cuttings from half-hardy bedding plants such as fuchsias, pelargoniums, marguerites and trailing petunias.

Once done, cover the pots with a polythene bag or with a propagator lid and place somewhere warm and sheltered but out of strong, direct sunlight.

Don’t forget to pick up everything you need for taking successful cuttings including pots, compost, dibbers, rooting hormone, labels and propagator lids.

Meanwhile, rhododendrons, camellias and azaleas will be setting their flower buds for next year, so it’s important they never go short of water at this time of year or the flower buds may fail next spring.

Feeding will also produce more and better flowers.

Mulching with bark or similar products will help maintain soil moisture levels and insulate the roots from damaging high temperatures.