August – Savouring Summer’s Shift

14 August 2026, by Abbie Jones, Co Head Gardener at Furzey Gardens

Seed heads begin to appear amongst the flowers and, if you pay close attention, you’ll notice that evenings become ever so slightly cooler as the quiet hints of autumn make themselves known.  

It’s another month that encourages us to slow down and appreciate the garden for everything it has become. The frantic pace of early spring and core summer is behind us, and instead, August offers us the opportunity to observe, harvest, and enjoy the abundance that months of care have created. 

Of course, as always, there’s still plenty to keep us occupied. 

Water wisely 

Warm weather can continue well into August, making thoughtful watering more important than ever. With many parts of the UK experiencing water restrictions, it’s worth checking with your local water supplier to understand what measures are in place in your area. Whatever the guidance, using water wisely helps both your garden and the environment. Watering early in the morning or later in the evening reduces evaporation, allowing moisture to soak into the soil where plants need it most and making every drop count. 

At Furzey, watering is an important part of caring for the cottage garden through drier spells. Supported gardener David recently explained: 

‘I’m watering the plants because it’s been a dry season, and we need to water to keep it growing. I’m watering sweetcorn and tomatoes and kale.’ 

Ferhan showing off delicious produce

Continue deadheading plants like roses, dahlias, and cosmos to encourage them to continue blooming into September. At the same time, I would gently encourage you to leave some seed heads, not only can these be architecturally stunning and bring their own beauty to the garden, but they also provide a food source for birds later in the year and could even reward you with your own self-sown seedlings next spring. 

The vegetable garden is at its most generous now. Courgettes seem to appear overnight, beans keep producing, tomatoes begin to ripen, and herbs are their most fragrant. Regular harvesting not only keeps the kitchen well supplied but also encourages many crops to continue producing well into the season. 

Wildlife continues to play a vital role in the garden. Bees, butterflies and hoverflies remain busy on late-flowering plants, while dragonflies may be seen darting across ponds on warm afternoons. Even as some flowers begin to fade, there is still plenty of nectar available if we allow the garden to retain some of its natural informality.  

Perhaps the greatest pleasure August offers is the chance to pause. Find a shady bench, listen to the hum of insects, watch the swallows overhead or simply enjoy the scent of late summer blooms carried on the breeze. Gardens are never static – they are constantly changing and August reminds us that beauty isn’t only found in fresh beginnings, but also in the richness and maturity of a season reaching its peak. 

Cosmos brightening the summer border

August is a wonderful time to explore Furzey, with every corner of the garden offering something a little different. While the bold colours of early summer are beginning to mellow, the borders are still full of life, and there’s a richness to the planting that rewards those who take the time to wander and observe 

One of the highlights this month is our collection of late-flowering trees. On the Top Lawn, towering over the Giants Table, our Eucryphia ‘Nymansay’ comes into bloom, its delicate white flowers standing out against deep green foliage and providing a welcome feast for bees. Nearby, the graceful Oxydendrum arboreum, or Sorrel Tree, begins to flower, adding a softer, more understated beauty to the landscape. As the month progresses, the Sophora japonica, also known as the Japanese Pagoda Tree, takes its turn, filling its branches with creamy-white flowers that become an important late-season nectar source for pollinators. 

Elsewhere in the garden, dahlias continue to brighten the summer border with vibrant colour, while hydrangeas provide softer shades of pink, blue and white. The ornamental grasses are beginning to come into their own too, adding movement and texture as they sway in the late summer breeze. 

Wildlife is never far away in August. Butterflies drift between the flowers, bees remain busy gathering nectar, and on warm afternoons you may spot dragonflies gliding across the lake. As supported gardener David added: ‘The sunflowers have got tall, and the bees like them’.  It’s a month that encourages you to slow your pace, look a little closer, and enjoy the smaller details that make the garden feel so alive. 

Whether you’re visiting for inspiration, a peaceful stroll or simply to spend time in nature, August offers a different kind of beauty. It’s less about dramatic displays and more about appreciating the abundance, character and gentle changes that mark the height of the season. 

Hydrangea macrophylla sunbathing

August; summer holidays are in full swing, bringing excited little legs and big smiles to the gardens. Galactic Furzey’s curious creatures and strange portals are hiding around the gardens, awaiting the brave space explorers to discover them. Trail maps, crayons and explorer badge are £3.50. Pre-booking your visit is essential in school holidays – please help us manage our parking capacity!

As the sun sets on the gardens, our magical outdoor theatre evenings return. Everyone’s favourite New Forest Open Air Theatre are in full swing, running until 17 August, with Oliver Goldsmith’s She Stoops to Conquer.  Think comedy, live music and mistaken identity, with a little (a lot!) of romance.  Catch them at the gardens from 25 July – 17 August.

Galactic Furzey

This article originally appeared as the monthly In The Garden column in the Lymington Times, buy the paper on the second Friday of every month to read the next column first.