Gardening Jobs for July

July is the busiest but one of the most rewarding months in the garden. The optimum time for flower and vegetable growth where you can clearly see how all your hard work has paid off to this point. With long, warm (sometimes very warm after our recent heatwave!) it’s the perfect time to enjoy your outdoor space whilst keeping on top of all the essential maintenance. A little attention to all aspects of your garden now will ensure a healthy and abundant garden for the coming summer months.

So, with this in mind here are the essential things you need to remember to keep your garden up to scratch in July.

Water Wiseley

Although plants need constant watering during hot spells it is important to water effectively.

·         Always remember to water early in the morning or late at night to reduce evaporation

·         It’s always better to give them a deep soak rather than just a light watering

·         Prioritise watering newly planted shrubs, hanging baskets and vegetables

·         Use mulch around your plants to retain moisture during the hotter days

Deadhead Summer Flowers

Remove faded blooms which will encourage more flowering plants. Regularly deadhead Roses, Geraniums, Cosmos, Sweet Peas and Bedding Plants.

By deadheading through the summer months, you can extend their flowering season well into Autumn.

Harvest Homegrown Produce

Nothing tastes better that what you grow yourself in the garden.

Regularly harvest Potatoes, Courgettes, Beetroot, Broad Beans, Lettuce, Peas, Carrots Raspberries, and Strawberries.

The bonus being you will encourage more growth, meaning you get to taste the fruits of your labour for much longer.

Feed Your Hungry Plants

The Summer months mean fast growing plants quickly use up nutrients.

Make sure to feed the following to develop stronger growth and beautiful blooms.

·         Tomatoes with ahigh-potash fertiliser when you see your fruits forming.

·         Hanging baskets weekly

·         Dahlias and flowering containers every 7-10 days

·         Roses after their first flush of flowers

Try using a pair of our 306 Harvest Snips for this, they have great reach withing the plant and the rounded tip means you will protect any surrounding fruits or flowers.

Keep Your Lawn Looking Its Best

Lawns grown rapidly during July, so it’s good to remember:

·         Mow regularly but don’t cut too short during dry weather

·         Raise the height of the mower during heatwaves

·         Occasionally leave grass clippings on the floor to return nutrients

·         Water only if necessary

A longer lawn will cope much better in the heat.

Support Tall Plants

Lots of perennials reach their full height during this month, make sure to support them to prevent damage to stems. Check supports on plants such as Dahlias, Delphiniums, Gladioli, Sweet Peas and Tomatoes.

Sow for Late Summer & Autumn

There’s still plenty of time to sow crops for later harvests

If you still fancy having a grown at growing some vegetables here’s a good selection to start you off:

·         Lettuce

·         Spring Onions

·         Radishes

·         Beetroot

·         Turnips

·         Pak Choi

·         Winter Spinach

If you follow succession growing every couple of weeks this will provide continuous harvests.

Watch Out for Pests

Warm weather encourages pests and diseases. Always look out for Slugs, Snails, Aphids, Lily Beetles, Vine Weevils and Powdery Mildew.

Always inspect plants regularly and deal with them early using environmentally friendly methods where possible.

Prune Summer Shrubs

After flowering many plants benefit from a tidy up and prevents healthy new growth.

Be sure to prune the following when needed:

·         Lavender after flowering

·         Summer prune Wisteria

·         Early flowering shrubs

·         Hardy Geraniums

Use a pair of our 103 Secateurs for this or even invest in our Pruning Gift Set complete with the Secateurs and Holster to carry them in, meaning they are always in hand when you are pruning!

Most Importantly. Enjoy Your Garden!

It’s easy to get carried away with all the little things you need to do in the garden during the summer months but now is the time to enjoy it. Take in all of your hard work and relax and appreciate all you’ve nurtured.

·         Watch pollinators visit flowers

·         Harvest fresh vegetables for dinner

·         Take a moment Enjoy all the scents and sounds around you

·         Get excited for planning your Autumn planting

 

Keeping on top of all these jobs means you will be rewarded with abundant flowers, healthy vegetables and a beautiful outdoor space to enjoy. Keeping on top of all these tasks will create your very own piece of tranquillity, but remember to pause and enjoy, sit and relax and take a look at what you’ve achieved. These warm summer months and long bright evenings don’t stay around forever.