Gardening in August in Ireland | What To Do

What to Sow in August

Sow spring cabbage for overwintering. Last chance to sow turnips and beetroot for autumn. Sow winter salads: winter lettuce, lamb's lettuce, claytonia (winter purslane), and mizuna under cover. Sow green manures on cleared beds — grazing rye, field beans or crimson clover will protect and improve the soil over winter. Japanese onion sets can be planted from late August for early summer harvest next year. Start forcing chicory roots for winter chicons. Quick-growing radishes and spring onions can still be sown for autumn picking.

What to Plant in August

Plant out spring cabbage seedlings. Plant autumn-flowering bulbs including colchicum, nerine and autumn crocus. Plant new strawberry beds with fresh runners — August planting allows strong root development before winter. Take semi-ripe cuttings of shrubs including lavender, rosemary, box and euonymus. Plant Madonna lilies. Pot up herbs to bring indoors for winter harvests. Continue planting out any remaining winter brassica seedlings.

What to Harvest in August

August is the most abundant harvest month. Tomatoes, peppers, courgettes, aubergines, cucumbers, runner beans, French beans, sweetcorn, beetroot, carrots, onions and potatoes are all producing generously. Soft fruit continues with late raspberries, blackberries, blueberries and the first plums and early apples. Pick and preserve surplus crops — freeze, jam, pickle or dry for winter use. Lift and dry onions and shallots for storage. Begin lifting maincrop potatoes towards the end of the month.

Lawn Care in August

Continue mowing regularly at a medium height. If the lawn has become stressed by summer heat and drought, aerate compacted areas with a garden fork. September is the best month for lawn renovation in Ireland, so plan your approach now — assess which areas need overseeding, levelling or dethatching. Reduce mowing frequency as growth slows towards the end of the month. The autumn rains will revive tired lawns naturally.

General Garden Tasks for August

Continue feeding and watering tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers for maximum crops. Prune summer-fruiting raspberries after harvest — cut fruited canes to ground level and tie in new growth. Summer prune wisteria — reduce side shoots to five or six leaves. Support heavily laden fruit branches to prevent breakage. Net ripening fruit against birds. Begin ordering spring-flowering bulbs for autumn planting. Take cuttings of pelargoniums (geraniums) for overwintering. Prepare the ground for new plantings planned for autumn. Continue deadheading and watering containers.

Ireland-Specific Tips for August

August weather in Ireland ranges from warm and settled to wet and cool — sometimes all in the same week. Average temperatures are similar to July at 15-19°C. Late August often brings a noticeable change in the quality of light, with shorter evenings signalling the approaching autumn. Mists and dew become heavier, increasing disease pressure on susceptible plants. Continue potato blight vigilance. August is blackberry season in Ireland, with hedgerows laden with fruit throughout counties Cork, Tipperary, Wexford and Kilkenny. The first hints of autumn colour appear on some trees.

Frequently Asked Questions

Maincrop potatoes are typically ready to lift in Ireland from late August through September. Wait until the foliage (haulm) has died back naturally, then cut it off and leave the tubers in the ground for another two weeks to allow the skins to set. This gives them a tougher skin that stores better. Lift on a dry day using a garden fork, being careful not to spear the tubers. Leave them on the soil surface for a few hours to dry before storing in paper sacks or hessian bags in a cool, dark, frost-free place.

After lifting onions, lay them out in a single layer in a warm, dry, well-ventilated place to cure for two to three weeks. A greenhouse, shed or covered outdoor area works well in Irish conditions. The outer skins should become papery and rustly when fully cured. Remove any that show signs of thick necks or soft spots, as these won't store well — use them first. Store cured onions in net bags, old tights or hung in plaits in a cool, dry, frost-free place. Well-cured onions can store for four to six months in good conditions.

August is actually one of the best times to plant strawberries in Ireland. Fresh runners planted in August have several months of warm soil to establish strong root systems before winter. This gives them a significant advantage over spring-planted runners, resulting in a much better crop the following summer. Choose a sunny, well-drained site and prepare the soil with plenty of well-rotted compost. Space plants 35-40cm apart in rows 75cm apart. Water well after planting and mulch with straw to keep the fruit clean when it arrives next June.

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What To Do In Your Irish Garden In August