The Garden in July

In July we start to reap the benefit of all that effort earlier in the year. There are a few things still to do but we can lie back and enjoy our garden and bring out the loungers and the Pimms.

Dead head bedding plants and roses, this will to encourage further flowering. Also remove any fallen rose petals to prevent fungal disease forming

Hanging baskets and containers can dry out quickly, particular in the current weather. They may even need topping up as much as twice a day. Also feed regularly to promote flowering.

Faded flower-spikes on lupins, campanula, delphinium, etc. can be cut down to just above a new shoot or leaf. Apply liquid feed to each plant to encourage fresh growth.

Keep onions well-watered so as not to affect the size of the crop. Your onion hoe needs to be busy this month keeping down the weeds.

Remove side shoots on cordon tomatoes and feed regularly with a high potash liquid tomato fertiliser.

Houseplants enjoy spending the summer outside, so find a sheltered spot for them and give them a holiday.

Prune established plum and apricot trees.

Keep picking sweet peas for enjoying as cut flowers, you can do this daily and they will carry on flowering. Feed the plants every 12 days

Prune shrubs that flowered in early summer.

Your garden birds will enjoy a dish of fresh water to both drink from and bathe in – and you’ll get the pleasure of watching them. You can even take some photos for the Garden Awards.