Gardening Calendar - July

Enjoy July

 

July is the month to really enjoy all the hard work you put in to the garden earlier in the year. Herbaceous borders will be in full flower,the lawn should be looking velvety and lush,the vegetable garden will be producing crops from the earlier sowings and plantings. The work in the garden in July should also be less taxing with tasks such regular watering, hoeing, dead heading giving therapeutic pleasure. The weather should offer ample opportunity to sit out and ENJOY the garden. But of course there is still lots to keep you occupied.

 

Trees and Shrubs

 

• Dead head roses

• Tie in climbing plants to keep under control and looking neat and tidy

• Spray roses against Black Spot and Mildew and feed with a general fertiliser to encourage repeat flowering

• Prune back shrubs which have finished flowering

 

Vegetable Garden

 

• Lots to harvest this month, Peas, Beans, Salad crops, Carrots, Cauliflower,Potatoes and don't forget to blanch and freeze surpluses which are bound to occur

• Plant out leek plants

• Plant some potato tubers in containers for an Autumn and winter crop (move indoors before the first frost, you might even get new potatoes for Christmas

• Pinch out side shoots from Tomatoes (not necessary with varieties such as Gardeners Delight) and feed weekly with Tomorite

• Don't pick any more Rhubarb as this will allow the plant to build up a strong crown for next years crops

 

Fruit Garden

 

• What joy to be picking your own Strawberries and Raspberries but protect with netting to keep off the raiding birds

• Peg down runners of Strawberries to produce plants for next years crop

• Summer prune Apples and Pears shortening the new side shoots back to 3-5 buds to encourage the formation of fruiting spurs

• Thin out fruits on Apples and pears to encourage good balanced crops, leave 3-5 fruits per cluster

 

Lawn

 

• This is the last time this year to apply a high Nitrogen feed

• Apply selective weed killer to control a wide range of weeds which may be showing up in the lawn

 

General Gardening

 

• Keep picking sweet Peas regularly (every couple of days) and don't leave any flower to go to seed as this will discourage further flowering.

• Feed plants in troughs and baskets regularly to keep looking at their best

• Water troughs and baskets regularly even if it's been raining

• Cut back Herbaceous plants after flowering, such as Lupins, Delphiniums, Geraniums to tidy up and encourage new growth that may even flower a second time this year

• Look out for vine weevil damage and if seen treat with Nematodes

• Start planning your Autumn bulb ordering

 

Forshaw Heath Rd, Earlswood, Solihull, West Midlands, B94 5JU
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