As midsummer takes hold our gardens are flourishing and offering vibrant colours, lush growth, and bountiful harvests. July is the month to take more time to sit back, relax and embrace your outdoor space whether it’s a patio or balcony or larger garden. From some al fresco dining to just enjoying a cup of tea let’s enjoy the garden! Here’s a look at some key tasks to tackle in the garden too if you can’t sit still for too long.
Watering
When there hasn’t been a good amount of rainfall watering is top priority; especially anything in a pot or hanging basket. Established plants will have their roots firmly down in the soil and if you have mulched in the spring then the soil should be quite water retentive. Be sure to water anything that is relatively newly planted as they’ll need while their roots are still establishing. Fruit and vegetables also need watering in order to swell up well.
Feed Plants
Watering, whether from the sky or a can, also has the effect of washing nutrients out of pots and containers so do feed your plants. Use a liquid feed for pots at this time of year and when planting anything include some of the slow release granular feed. This is especially important for pots containing peat free composts. Feeding will promote better, healthier, freer flowering plants and help them withstand pests and diseases. Prevention is so much better than cure. Roses will also benefit hugely from a good feed once the first flush of flowers is over.
Deadheading for More Blooms
Keep your flowering plants such as roses, dahlias, and sweet peas blooming continuously by regular deadheading. Removing spent blooms redirects energy into new growth, prolonging the flowering season.
Pruning
Early July is ideal for pruning shrubs that flowered in spring, such as forsythia, lilac, and early clematis varieties. Cutting them back soon after flowering helps maintain shape and encourages vigorous growth for next season
Lawn Care
Regular mowing remains important, but adjust your mower to a higher setting to protect grass roots from summer heat stress. This helps your lawn stay greener and healthier. If patches appear dry, spike the area gently to improve water absorption.
Weeding
Weeding may seem like a chore, but it is time well spent to prevent a widespread problem later on, and certainly gives a huge amount of satisfaction for a job well done. A hoe can be a very valuable tool to make weeding as easy as possible, saving your back.
Feed and Protect Your Veg
Your vegetable patch will be in full swing; peas, courgettes, beans, and tomatoes especially. Feed regularly with a high-potash liquid feed, particularly tomatoes, peppers, and aubergines to encourage robust fruiting. Watch out for pests like aphids and slugs; hand removal or organic sprays are effective at this stage.
Feed the Birds
Continue feeding birds with appropriate seeds and suet to support them during nesting season.
