To do in August

• Spray peaches, nectarines and almonds for curly leaf with a copper based fungicide when the buds start to swell and again 10 days later. Curly leaf is a fungus that is encouraged by cool wet conditions so this year we will find that these trees will be widely affected due to our very wet winter! The symptoms of curly leaf include the new leaves becoming distorted and blistered and later turning a deep red with a white fungal bloom on the surface.If not treated the health of the tree may become seriously weakened.
• Re-weed and mulch garden beds, this will help keep in the moisture and reduce spring weeds. I use fine pine bark in my general garden beds as it takes about a year to break down. This ensures a lasting weed suppressant but also adds to the health of the soil in a reasonable time frame. In my opinion wood chips take too long to break down so are only useful in high traffic gardens where resilience is necessary. For veggie gardens it is best to use a mulch that breaks down quickly such as pea straw.  
• Cut back perennials to encourage new spring growth. If you haven't done so already  now is the time to cut back all the dead or old last seasons growth on plants such as mints, miscanthus, penstemons and herbaceous peonies. There is nothing more tedious than trying to cut out old stems amongst new growth, in saying this I am taking my own advice and getting out into the garden now with my secateurs to avoid this happening to me........again!