JULY

Lawncare

• Mow the lawn weekly and remember to add the clippings to your compost heap.
• Last chance to apply a liquid summer feed, especially if you did not apply a spring feed. If there are weeds present a feed and weed may be useful (do not apply to newly laid or seeded lawns).
• New areas of grass, either sown or turfed in the spring, will need extra water to keep them going through their first summer so when using a sprinkler use a jam jar in the middle of the lawn once the jar has 10-13mm (½ in) in the bottom the lawn has had sufficient water.
• During dry periods cut the lawn a little longer and invest in a mulching mower to help the lawn retain moisture.
  In mid-summer some lawns may get heavy infestations of ants. Brushing out the nests on a dry day is the best method of control, prior to mowing.
• Isolated weeds can be removed by digging out or by using a paint-on weed killer as a spot treatment.

Houseplant Care

• Many indoor plants benefit from being placed outside on the patio during the summer.
• Ventilate and shade sunrooms and conservatories to prevent scorch damage to leaves.
• Freely water and feed as necessary (as per the manufacturer’s instructions.) Try and water early mornings or late evenings to avoid evaporation and scorch.
• Start taking cuttings of fuchsias and pelargoniums.
• Check plants for red spider mite, glasshouse white fly, mealy bug and scale insect on a regular basis.

Jobs To Do In The Garden

• Water tubs and new plants if dry.
• Deadhead faded flowers to encourage more and prolong the flowering period.
• Cut back delphiniums to encourage second flush of flowers and give them a feed after cutting back.
• Summer is also the best time to tackle perennial weeds when they are growing. Either by digging out or applying a weed killer, which can be more practical, especially for larger areas.
• Mulch around shrubs, roses and trees to help prevent moisture loss and suppress weeds.
• Pinch out leading shoots on chrysanthemums and helianthus to encourage bushy plants.
• Leyland cypress hedging can be clipped as necessary during the growing season.
• Start collecting seed for plants you wish to grow next year such as calendula, love-in-the-mist and poppy.
• Fill gaps in borders with annuals.
• Prune June flowering shrubs like philadelphus and weigela after flowering.
• Liquid feed containers.
• Check for green fly and black fly on young shoots or stems.
• Check for clematis wilt.
• Hoe borders to prevent annual and perennial weeds from establishing.
• Check for first signs of vine weevil damage.

Jobs To Do In The Greenhouse

• Remember to ventilate the greenhouse on sunny days and on the warmest days you may need to damp the flooring down to increase the humidity.
• Give plants more space as they grow to help avoid pest infestations.
• Carry on pricking out any seedlings, which are big enough to handle.
• Pelargonium cuttings can be taken this month.
• Check for vine weevil larvae in containers.
• Harden off half-hardy annuals, which have been started undercover and need acclimatising to the outside environment over a period of a week or so ready for planting in their final position.
• Used shade paint on outside of greenhouse or blinds to stop temperatures soaring
• Check plants regularly for water.
• Regularly inspect plants for pest and disease.

The Vegetable Garden

• Last chance to sow French beans and runner beans.
• Sow cabbage, turnips, fennel and autumn-winter salads.
• Carrots can be sown, beware of carrot fly and thin existing seedlings.
• Change to high potash feed for container grown fruit.
• Continue consistent supply of water to help avoid diseases, disorders and bolting.
• Water tomatoes and peppers regularly to avoid blossom end rot.
• Watch out for potato blight and tomato blight.
• Protect brassicas from pigeons.
• Summer prune red currants, white currants and gooseberries.
• Protect carrots with enviromesh to stop damage from carrot root fly
• Remove suckers from around the base of fruit trees.
• Pinch out growing tips on outdoor melons twice, at four-week intervals.
• Continue to harvest indoor spinach, peas, beans carrots, potatoes, salads, raspberries, and cherries,
• Strawberries, gooseberries, red and white currants.
• Hoe off weeds in dry weather.
• Climbing beans may need to be stopped to maximise cropping on existing side shoots.
  Treat apple scab.
• Pinching out the top of broad beans once the lowest flowers have set will help prevent aphid attack.

Wildlife & Bird Care

• Do not prune roses that produce hips by dead-heading.
• Keep birdbaths topped up with water.
• Mow recently established perennial meadows but not annual cornfield meadows.
• Plant Marigolds around the vegetable patch to attract hoverflies.
• Avoid chunky foods that could choke young fledglings.
• Use wildlife friendly slug pellets if chemical control is needed.
• Trim hedges less frequently to encourage wildlife to shelter and feed.
• Make sure your pond is more wildlife friendly (by plant round the pond and creating a shallow edge so wildlife can access the pond safely).
• Annual meadows do not need mowing.
• Watch for adult frogs and toads leaving ponds.

Any Other Advice

• Collect grey water for watering containers and baskets.
• Hang yellow card sticky traps in greenhouses and conservatories.
• Clear algae, blanket weed and debris from ponds and keep them topped up.
• In a dry spell treat timber structures and buildings (remembering to use in a well ventilated space and use an appropriate product).

Enjoy your garden and don’t forget to take time and stop and stare at the wonder of nature. Happy gardening!