August greenhouse and garden advice

While many parts of the country have experienced a wet August, the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS ) has published some advice for garden and greenhouse enthusiasts who have enjoyed warm weather.

According to the experts, this is typically one of the hottest months of the year, requiring growers to keep a special eye on their plants hydration levels.

The organisation recommends using grey water to help reduce your impact on the environment.

Much of the water from heavy downpours will run off and garden and greenhouse fans should be aware of this and the evaporation caused by warmer temperatures.

Meanwhile, the RHS also had advice for those who do not have to worry as much about watering thanks to the wet weather.

It said that now is the time to collect seed from your favourite plants, while deadheading flowers regularly is a good idea.

Vegetables should continue to be harvested as they become ready, while the soil should be fed with green manures.

It is also a useful exercise to prune wisteria and restricted fruit plants, the organisation said.

In other news, the RHS recently revealed which plants it would be adding to its trials field at Garden Wisley in 2011.