Essential jobs for July
Watering is essential, assuming the weather stays hot and dry. Water thoroughly once or twice a week rather than little and often - this encourages plants to put down roots in search of water rather than coming up to the surface.
Remember, though, that containers and hanging baskets need watering every day and sometimes even twice a day if it is hot and windy) –
For recently planted large shrubs or trees, leave a hose trickling around the base for an hour. The same goes for established plants in very dry periods – pay particular attention to camellias, rhododendrons, azaleas and hydrangeas which will abort next season’s flowers if they get too dry. Mulch around the roots when moist to help avoid this. Recently planted hedges are best watered with a trickle hose (a length of old hose punctured with little holes) left running for an hour or so.
Ensure trees or shrubs planted in the last couple of years on lawns or in areas of rough grass have a circle of clear earth around them – this MUST be kept clear or grass will prevent essential moisture getting through. Mulching with bark or compost will help.
Water is a precious commodity – instigate good practices such as using kitchen and bath water (as long as it is neither too dirty, greasy nor full of detergent) for watering, collect rainwater in butts (available from the centre) and investigate ways to recycle water for your irrigation. Avoid using tap water for lime-hating plants such as camellias, rhododendrons and azaleas – they will not thank you for it!
The key to successful planting, whether it be a shrub, tree, perennial or bedding plant is to water in well. Soak the rootball in a bucket until no air bubbles come to the surface, dig the planting hole, fill with water and allow to drain away. Place the plant in the hole, fill with soil, firm gently and water well with a watering can – this will give the plant a huge advantage over one planted with a dry rootball in a dry hole and watered only on the surface.
Hoe beds and borders to get rid of annual weeds. If it’s dry, attack ground elder, lords and ladies (if you are not a fan – and I am not!) and the like with systemic weed killer painted onto the leaves and trail tips of bindweed into jam jars full of the same. Remember systemic weed killers are indiscriminate and will kill anything they contact. If you don’t have time to do this, at least cut the culprits down to prevent them from setting seed.
Keep your pond topped up with fresh water – a build up of algae in warm weather can be toxic, if not fatal, for animals.
TREES, SHRUBS, CLIMBERS
Trim hedges such as privet, hawthorn, beech, yew, thuja, leylandii and lonicera – don’t bother with secateurs unless you have time on your hands – a broad chop with sharp shears is fine.
Prune early summer flowering shrubs such as weigela, philadelphus and deutzia after they have flowered to avoid the leggy look. Cut out some of the oldest wood (up to a third of the bush) right down to the base - don’t leave it too late or the new growth will not have enough time to produce a decent show for next year’s flowering .....procrastinate at your peril!
Keep spraying roses with fungicide to ward against black spot and mildew. Do this in the evening to avoid harming bees. Repeat every fortnight until the autumn. Remember stricken leaves must be burnt – do not leave them on the compost heap as this will become the perfect incubation site. Feed with a foliar feed and beware greenfly – treat immediately if an infestation occurs – ask in the garden centre for advice as to what to use if you are unsure.
Keep deadheading roses regularly, cutting back to the nearest five leaf spray with sharp secateurs – just breaking the stem leaves the rose more vulnerable to infection.
Keep an eye open for rose suckers (which appear from low down and have different leaves) and remove by pulling downwards and tearing – cutting them will merely encourage them to reappear!
Keep tying in climbing and rambling roses horizontally – this encourages more flower production as fewer side-shoots are produced due to restricted sap flow.
Cut long lavender stalks, tie into bunches and hang upside down for wonderful dried lavender. Try tucking a sprig or two under your pillow to help you sleep peacefully.
GARDENING CLUB EXCLUSIVE: Lavender, hydrangeas and David Austin roses are just a few of the offers for Gardening Club members this month.
LAWNS
Keep mowing your lawn but raise the height of your blades if the weather remains hot.
Feed established lawns if you haven’t already done so with a summer lawn feed. If your lawn is mossy or full of weeds, use a feed with mosskiller or weedkiller, although this will also kill any wild flowers. If you have the lot, use combined feed, weed and mosskiller!
Add your grass clippings to the compost heap in shallow layers....a huge dollop will only turn slimy and spoil your compost.
Don’t let newly laid lawns dry out in hot weather – water with a sprinkler in the evening and if there is a heat wave, consider leaving the lawn longer than usual just to help it through the hot weather.
If you are planning to seed a new lawn in the autumn, start preparing the area to allow the earth time to settle.
BULBS, FLOWERS AND CONTAINERS
Divide old clumps of bearded irises and replant.
The BIG CHOP – chop oriental poppies, lupins, delphiniums and geraniums right down to the ground once they have finished flowering – be brave and be brutal – the new leaves will be an ornament and some may flower again.
Support tall delphinium stems with individual canes.
Cheat and fill any gaps in your borders with established herbaceous plants or container-grown perennials. Dahlias will keep colour going until the first frosts so are a great autumn brightener in mixed borders.
Pick sweet peas regularly – this is in effect early deadheading and will ensure continued flowering. Remember sweet peas are thirsty plants so keep them well watered.
Go for instant impact and colour in your garden or on your terrace with a ready planted container......or for a special occasion sink whole containers into your borders for a fabulous instant makeover!
GARDENING CLUB EXCLUSIVE: A fantastic range of offers on planted containers, bedding plants and much more is available for our Gardening Club members this month.