6 essential gardening jobs to do this week before August begins – or it might be too late

As the curtains close on a gloriously sun-drenched July, the summer season chugs on, and the list of gardening jobs continues to grow.

August is looming large, and many of us are hurtling through our summer gardening checklist, but with just a handful of days left in July, some July gardening jobs require action before it's too late.

Here are six jobs to do before August begins to ensure that your yard is in great shape for late summer.

6 gardening jobs to do before August

Wherever you live and whatever your US hardiness zone, there are certain jobs that should be completed before we enter late summer. Here's everything I know to keep your yard looking good this year.

Prune rambling roses now before their blooms are gone

Now is the time to prune rambling roses. If you have a rambling rose that grows vigorously, then annual pruning is an important task.

Pruning rambling roses at the wrong time is a common rose pruning mistake that can damage the health of your plant, most commonly because they are mistaken for climbing roses, which should be pruned in winter.

Unlike all other roses, the pruning of rambling roses should always take place immediately after flowering in the summer. For most, this will occur in late July, once the flowers have bloomed.

For extremely tall rambling roses, it is a good idea to invest in a strong, sturdy ladder. Telescopic ladders, available from Walmart, are a good investment.

A quality pair of thorn-resistant gardening gloves is a must (don't try to tackle this job without them, you won't thank yourself for it). A pair of leather gauntlets made for pruning, available at Amazon, would be ideal.

Plant fall flowering bulbs

July is the best month to plant fall-flowering bulbs such as Guernsey lilies and fall-flowering crocus.

It's easy to forget about planting bulbs in summertime for fall flowers, but now is the time to get them into the ground so they have time to get rooted.

There are some truly beautiful bulbs to shop now, like these darling Water Lily Colchicum from American Meadows or White Fall Flowering Crocus from American Meadows.

Give your lavender a summer chop

If you're wondering when to prune lavender, the answer is now. If you don't prune lavender, the plant will quickly become leggy and woody.

One of the keys to landscaping with lavender is to keep it under control so it flowers its socks off all summer long.

Those two things sound counterintuitive, but left to its own devices and not given a summer haircut, lavender will lose its magic, the bees will stop being interested, and the flowers will appear grey and limp.

It is essential to prune it once it has faded in mid-to-late summer. This will prevent them from becoming leggy and encourage a second flush of blooms as we hurtle into August.

Generally, the harder lavenders are pruned, the longer they will last, so don't be afraid of really going in hard.

Using some lightweight pruners, like these available at Amazon, would do the job perfectly.

Cut back early summer perennials

If you want a proliferation of blooms in August from your early-flowering perennials, many of them won't flower again unless they are chopped back now.

Early-flowering perennials like delphiniums, geraniums, lupins, and veronica will have finished flowering now.

Whilst they will remain perfectly fit and healthy, many may not throw out any more growth for the rest of summer after having put on the most terrific floral display through May and June.

But, there is a lot of growing potential still to be tapped into, and this is why cutting back now is essential if you want them to flower again. Wait until later in the summer, and it could well be too late to extend the flowering season.

Take hydrangea cuttings

If you have never tried to propagate hydrangeas before, know this: it is extremely easy, especially if you do it now.

Whilst some choose to take hydrangea cuttings in the spring, I prefer to wait until July. If you take hydrangea cuttings now, when your hydrangea is in the throes of summer and active growth, your cuttings will be 'semi-ripe', which is ideal for propagation.

Whilst you can take softwood cuttings anytime between June and September, I have found July is the time that yields the best results.

You will need a gardening knife or secateurs, potting mix, pots, and a windowsill ( or, if you're lucky, a greenhouse).

You could invest in a propagator like this one available at Amazon if you live in a cool climate, but the great thing about taking cuttings in July is that it tends to be warm enough to leave plants outside in the garden to root.

Feed dahlias ahead of a warm August

July is the time that you need to start thinking about fertilizing dahlias. If you haven't started to feed your hungry dahlias yet, do so this week before August rolls in, and they will certainly thank you for it.

Because dahlias grow and bloom with such vigour, they need additional feeding in order to reach their full potential in August and September.

Apply a fertilizer now and routinely throughout summer. If your dahlias have already started to flower, use a liquid seaweed fertilizer, like this organic liquid kelp fertilizer available at Amazon.

Don't let garden guilt kick in this year, head out into your yard, secateurs in hand, and get your garden ready for the final few months of summer.