Trim back any long growth shoots which have appeared on roses, fruit trees and shrubs. This helps to maintain the balance of the plant and to prevent any leggy growth which is not strong enough to hold itself up.

Now is also the time to trim lavender after it has finished flowering. If lavender is not given a haircut it starts to look woody and old and will need to be replaced.

Cut down early fruiting raspberry canes and tie in the new growth which will fruit next year. This is also true for blackberries as they fruit on 2 year old wood.

Hedges can be trimmed now to keep them in shape. To keep a hedge narrow and to give it an attractive shape you should trim it regularly. If you don't it will not only grow very wide, but it will also become bare inside. After about 10 years your initially beautiful hedge will look old and neglected. To prevent this, trim it with hedge clippers a few times during each growing season, keeping it wider at the bottom than at the top. This will allow enough light to penetrate to the lowermost branches keeping them an attractive green colour.

As you trim, work from bottom to top, trimming the side branches before the uppermost branches. String tied horizontally at the height you want to take the hedge to will help keep it level.

August is the best time to tidy up the summer growth on the Wisteria and create the flowering spurs. Begin by tying in any new shoots that are needed to extend the existing framework of branches, to fill in any gaps or to replace worn-out limbs. Then shorten the current year's shoots to about 30cm (1ft). Removing shoots at this time of year will restrict the amount of growth, improve air circulation and allow in more sunlight to ripen the young stems. All of these factors help to improve flower-bud formation.

Autumn is the ideal time of the year to start looking towards next year’s garden schemes. Start having a look at your garden and make a note of the areas which could be enhanced by a new shrub, fruit tree or ornamental tree. The plants will benefit from being planted early as the warmth in the soil, combined with the autumn rains, will encourage the plants to establish their roots before winter arrives. Autumn is the best time to plant evergreen plants and conifers as they tend to want little disturbance.

For a more ideas on plants for your garden this August, browse our full listing, or check out our Garden Plants page.