Do the ‘chel sea chop’

Fill border gaps, spruce up container displays and divide perennials. Get ahead for next year by planting crocuses for spring and taking salvia cuttings

Select good garden ‘doers’ that bring interest to your plot for many months

Make sure your borders look as colourful as possible by promptly deadheading this month to encourage more blooms. Annuals such as cosmos and pot marigolds can run out of steam this month if the flower

Throughout August I cut the box hedges that give shape to the vegetable garden. They’re just under waist height but that’s enough to protect most plants from the wind and they are a good dark backgrou

Cut back, feed, water and remove reverted stems

Look to the beautiful beds and borders of Hidcote Manor to discover how to prolong the season of interest, with this advice from National Trust head gardener Lottie Allen