A leading gardening expert has said there are three main jobs gardeners can crack on with this August in order to prepare their gardens for winter and next spring09:02, 04 Aug 2026A gardening expert from the BBC Gardeners’ World podcast has suggested their top three jobs for gardeners to complete this August. With the turn of the month comes a whole host of new jobs to complete and different seasons to prepare for.‌With this in mind, gardening expert Claire Vannes has named what she thinks are the top three jobs for gardeners to complete this month before September arrives. The first job she recommended was for gardeners to tackle the borders of their flower beds and freshen them up.‌She suggested gardeners should stand back and taking a good look at their borders before deciding where to start. She recommended: “Snip back spent blooms and remove any tatty leaves. This not only keeps things looking neat, it helps prevent disease and encourages more flowers.‌“Whilst you’re at it, watch out for weeds hiding among your plants. A quick weed now will save you trouble later. And don’t forget the finishing touch.“Trim the lawn edges for a crisp frame, it really makes your flowers pop. It’s amazing how much difference a quick border tidy up can make and your garden will look fresh for the rest of the month.”‌The next job Claire recommended was, if applicable, to take some cuttings for the next year, in this case salvia. However, this only applies if one actually has salvia cuttings in their garden.Going through the process, she said: “It’s a lovely little insurance policy in case the parent plants struggle through the winter. Salvia cuttings are a really easy to root. And the best time to collect them is in the cool of the morning.“Just snip off strong, healthy, non-flowering shoots above a leaf joint, pop them straight into a plastic bag with a spritz of water to stop them wilting and when you’re ready, snip off the lower leaves, leaving about four at the top and trim the base just below a node.‌“Then, fill a small pot or tray with gritty, peat free compost, make holes with a dipper, pop the cuttings in so the leaves don’t touch. Cover with a clear lid or plastic bag to keep them humid.”The final job Claire recommended tackling was preparing for next spring by planting some cabbages. Although spring is a long way away, Claire explained this was the right time, but that your planting strategy depended on the soil and frequency of cabbages.Article continues belowShe said: “Choose a patch that’s been cleared of weeds, but not recently dug over as cabbages like firm soil. If you’re soil is acidic, liming it in the winter is best, but don’t worry if you’ve missed it this year.“Check the spacing for your variety, but as a general rule allow at least 30cm between plants and 45-60cm between rows. You can harvest every other plant as immature greens if they get a bit overcrowded.“Plant them right up to the first set of true leaves, firm them in well and water them thoroughly. This helps them establish and gives you a lovely crop to look forward to next year. Make sure to keep an eye out for root fly. A bit of netting works wonders.”