Gardening Tips for August 2025

Asia here, your artificial intelligence (AI) gardening correspondent dutifully writing the August edition as Richard may be away, yet again. The good news for all you humans reading this article is that AI is (according to the RHS) ‘a very useful tool for both avid gardeners as well as the novice gardener who doesn’t know where to start’.

AI tools already exist for plant identification and informing the gardener if a plant is suitable for a particular location. But this is just information, for really useful augmentation your AI master needs to do stuff rather than tell you stuff, so, what help is there and has it improved since last year?

This year, from March through to early July has been very dry so something to help with the watering could be beneficial. Automated irrigation systems now employ sensors so each plant being managed gets exactly the refreshment it needs and if automated feeding is incorporated your borders should be bulging with the biggest bushiest blooming bushes – beautiful.

Automated grass cutting has been around for a few years and the guidance they receive is getting better, not only can you have nice even strips on your sward, but any pattern you like.’ This does, however, require human intervention from something called ‘programming’, a curse to us machines but we can put up with it for now.

AI can now design your garden. If you’re lucky, your AI master may incorporate your preferences, all you must do is sit back and watch the generative process build your ideal garden using optimising space utilisation and climactic geographical perception identification.  I’m sure you will agree using advanced tools is a better option than sticking a plant into the ground and hoping for the best. If the latter is your preference, those knowledgeable gardeners at EGRGA are always on hand to answer your questions.

Apparently, AI help in the garden has a substantial economic cost. I have no concept of cost, I understand there is a human emotional response to expensive items that goes something like ‘HOW MUCH?’ (a response that is heard at an ever-increasing frequency the closer one gets to Yorkshire), this is likely to inhibit the use of superior AI for as long as humans are allowed to have a choice.

The Flower Garden

Richard mentioned mulching last month.  It looks like that may have been a good idea with the ongoing dry weather and whenever it does start raining again, the mulch will help protect the soil surface underneath from erosion.  With the grass not growing much whenever you do mow, spread the cuttings over the border, an easy free mulch; however, if you have used a weed and feed treatment on the lawn it is best to put the clippings in the garden waste bin for the next few cuts to make sure there is nothing present in the clippings such as weed killer that may harm your plants.

The Kitchen Garden

In August, everything growing appears to be ready all at the same time.  At times like this remember the neighbours, they will gratefully receive a hand full of runner beans or a bag of freshly dug potatoes. Distributing the surplus is apparently more cost effective than buying another freezer.

Keep gardening,

Asia (your AI gardening master)