Making the Most of Your August Garden
August brings a mood of appreciation for all that has grown fully mature and ready to be lived in, as well as the work that has been done to lead up to this month. This month is less about working the soil and much more about enjoying the spaces you have created, finding quiet spots to unwind and making your patio feel bright and welcoming. It’s also about the joy of seeing others enjoy the space you have created.
Whether you have a large lawn or a small patio, it is the perfect time to make your outdoor space welcoming, gather family and friends around for some incredible food and stay out on the patio until the very last drop of daylight.
Bringing Summer Colour Home
If your borders or patio pots look tired after the midsummer heat, visiting our nursery offers instant inspiration to revive them. Longstock Park Nursery is packed with fresh choices designed to inject immediate life back into your garden displays, ensuring your outdoor areas remain bright and cheery through these peak weeks.
Our herbaceous border is an excellent place to see how these plants look once they are fully grown. Right now, the standouts are the late-flowering perennials that soak up the gorgeous golden summer light:
- Late Perennials: Bold Rudbeckias with deep gold petals, rich pink Echinaceas, fiery Heleniums and flowering Sedums thrive in the late-summer warmth, providing a vital burst of nectar for visiting pollinators.
- Texture & Movement: Japanese Anemones bring a delicate, swaying movement to shaded corners and ornamental grasses catch the breeze, adding a soft, rustling sound that induces relaxation.
- Shade Companions: For shaded or woodland pockets, our nursery selection includes lush ferns and shrubs that add depth and coolness.
You can also wander through the Longstock Park Walled Garden to gather ideas. Seeing how the central Clematis archway weaves through the apple trees and walking the 80-metre herbaceous border is a brilliant way to inspire your own garden design. Whether you want to fill a few gaps in a sunny bed or completely restock a collection of terracotta pots by the back door, our nursery team can help you select varieties that will look fantastic year after year.
Al Fresco Entertaining
Once your garden feels refreshed, you tend to want your family and friends to enjoy it too. Creating a beautiful and practical setup for dining is important to make meals outside easy. The Garden Shop focuses on pieces that blend beautifully with the natural environment but also add a brilliant pop of style at the same time.
Alongside classic neutral styles, the current furniture range features colourful dining sets that instantly lift the mood of a patio. A vibrant yellow bistro set or a soft sage green dining arrangement introduces a curated feel, making your outdoor dining area look bright and cheerful even on a hazy afternoon.
To complement these setups, we offer BBQ side tables that provide prep space, keeping your serving areas organised and clutter-free. Outdoor cooking moves beyond a standard grill this season:
- Standing Kadai Fire Bowls: These double as an incredible cooking surface and an atmospheric focal point as the evening cools down.
- Wood-Fired Pizza Ovens: A wood-fired pizza oven lets guests get involved, creating a relaxed kitchen outside.
The presentation completes the experience; our farm shop features serving plates and bowls and rustic wooden boards. Passing around vibrant salads in beautiful tableware under the soft glow of garden lanterns creates an inviting environment that feels warm and relaxing.
Exceptional Flavours from the Farm Shop
An outdoor BBQ deserves an incredible menu, filled with premium ingredients that make summer hosting an absolute pleasure. The Longstock Park Farm Shop is stocked with local produce, artisan treats and quality meats that require little effort to prepare but bring incredible fresh flavours.
Menu Element |
Seasonal Recommendations |
| The Main Showcase | We offer a range of exceptional meats, including Waitrose Essential native breed beef from farmers across the UK and chicken that exceeds the Better Chicken Commitment Standards (BCC) from slower-growing breeds with more space, natural light, and enrichment. These quality flavours are perfect for summer grilling. |
| The Accompaniments | Pair your grilled dishes with our Leckford loaf and seeded baguette made from our own wheat. Add a selection of artisanal chutneys and local cheeses to bring a balance of sweetness and acidity to the plate. |
| The Perfect Pour |
Freshen up these rich flavours with a bottle of our new Leckford Vintage Apple Cider or Pear & Apple Cider. Crafted from regeneratively grown apples and pears harvested at peak ripeness from our Leckford Estate orchards in autumn 2024, they're the perfect accompaniment to grilled meats, seasonal dishes and warm afternoons spent outdoors. Both are available from the Leckford Farm Shop, while our Vintage Apple Cider is also available online and in Waitrose stores. |
Creating a Garden for All Seasons
As we spend these long, balmy evenings outside, it is natural to wish this lifestyle could last all year. Although the changing seasons cannot be paused, we can certainly adapt our gardens to extend their usability far beyond the summer months. Investing in a permanent, high-quality garden building is one of the most effective ways to achieve this, creating a dedicated space where you can enjoy the beauty of your garden through every season.
We are incredibly proud to showcase Crane Garden Buildings here at Longstock Park. These structures are crafted with exceptional skill, using high-grade timber to ensure durability and aesthetic appeal. A beautifully designed garden building can serve multiple purposes throughout the year, acting as an extension of your home:
- A Summer Pavilion: During August, open the doors wide to let the breeze flow through, creating a shaded retreat from the afternoon sun.
- An Autumn Escape: As the air cools, the building becomes a cosy spot to watch the leaves turn, protected from the wind while remaining connected to nature.
- A Winter Studio: Fully insulated and heated, the space transforms into a quiet home office, an art studio or a peaceful reading room detached from the distractions of the main house.
Planning Next Year’s Landscape
Thinking ahead to larger structural changes in the garden ensures your outdoor landscape works better for the future. Our outdoor spaces are fully mature right now, making it the easiest time to spot gaps, identify areas that lack structure or recognise where a layout isn't working quite as well as it could.
Large-scale transformations require careful thought, planning and preparation. Our professional landscaping services team is available to help translate your ideas into a plan. By beginning the conversation during the late summer, you give yourself an advantage.
Timeline Stage |
Landscape Objectives & Benefits |
| August Assessment | Evaluate your garden while it is in full use and peak maturity, making it easy to identify gaps and practical needs. |
| Expert Consultation | Book discussions now to allow for design work and material selection to take place over the autumn. |
| Autumn/Winter Build | Heavy groundwork and physical construction can happen during the quiet winter months while the garden is dormant. |
| Spring Flourish | Your new landscape is fully planted, ready to enjoy the moment the warm weather returns and every moment after that. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I view the Crane Garden Buildings during my visit?
Yes, we have an excellent selection of Crane Garden Buildings on display at Longstock Park. You can walk through the structures to explore different layouts, feel the quality and speak with our knowledgeable team about customisation options.
What is the best way to care for newly purchased August plants?
Plants introduced during the peak of summer require attentive watering. We recommend planting them during a cooler evening, soaking them thoroughly immediately and maintaining a consistent watering schedule until their root systems become established in the soil.
How can I book a consultation with the landscaping team?
You can get in touch with our landscaping team by visiting the Landscaping Team on site Monday-Friday 9am-4pm, or contacting us through our website. We will arrange an initial discussion to explore your ideas, assess your space and help you plan your ideal outdoor layout.
Are dogs welcome at the nursery and walled garden?
Yes, well-behaved dogs on short leads are very welcome to join you as you explore the plant nursery, the outdoor seating areas and the walled nursery garden.
Is there parking available and do I need to book entry to the walled garden?
Parking on-site at Longstock Park is free, with plenty of space available outside the nursery and farm shop. Entry to our walled nursery garden is free and you do not need to book a ticket in advance. You can simply wander through during regular nursery opening hours.
