Summer gardening tips for fig and lavender care

Gardening guidance for August focuses on the proper harvesting of figs and the pruning of lavender.

For fig trees, maturity can be identified by a darker color (depending on the variety), a slightly soft texture, and the presence of sweet sap at the bottom of the fruit. To protect the tree's health and fruit production, major pruning should be avoided in August, as the tree is focusing on fruit maturation. Pruning should ideally occur in late winter or early spring to avoid disrupting sap flow or exposing the tree to disease.

Lavender should be cut once most inflorescences have lost their color and begun to dry. While the timing varies by climate, the ideal period is generally July or early August, immediately following the main flowering wave. Cutting lavender while shoots are still green in August may allow for a second, albeit weaker, bloom, provided the weather remains warm.