July Gardening To-Do List
By July your garden will be absolutely flourishing and in full bloom. This month is all about enjoying the fruits of our labour, quite literally in some cases! Your garden will be bursting with fresh produce to enjoy over the summer, but don't forget to stay on top of the regular maintenance - especially watering.
Deadhead flowers to encourage continuous flowering. Encourage growth and further flowering by removing the heads of dead flowers regularly. Deadheading can be done simply using a finger and thumb with most types of flowers, simply pinch of the deadhead. Usually, the stem will snap at the base of the flower but do not worry, this does not harm the plant.
Trim conifer hedges. Conifer hedges require regular cutting and a good trim now should last until September time. Make sure to check thoroughly for any wildlife first, especially for wild birds that could be nesting. Conifer cuttings tend to be very acidic, therefore we recommend not adding them into your composter.
Lift new potatoes. If you have planted Second Earlies this year, they should be nearly ready over the coming weeks. You can have a cheeky rummage around in the soil to get a feel for the size, they need to be about the size of a chicken egg. Bear in mind that early potatoes do not store well and should be harvested as needed.
Start harvesting raspberries and fruiting currants. Berries will be starting to ripen now, so get picking as soon as they look plump and ready. Raspberries and blackberries should come away from the plant easier when they are ripe but be mindful of any prickles! If you find yourself with an abundance, why not pop some in the freezer or try making some delicious homemade berry jams.
Pick and dry herbs such as sage, rosemary and thyme. Pinch off leaves and sprigs between your finger and thumb, trying to only harvest up to a third of the plant at one time. Removing flowering buds will help to encourage further growth. Bunch the sprigs together using an elastic band or some twine, hang them in a warm and dry area, away from sunlight. They should then air dry naturally, providing you with a longer-lasting home-grown flavour.
Sow Autumn and Winter salads. If you fancy some fresh leafy greens in your salad over the coming months, now is the time to get them sown. Be mindful of frosts and colder weather, these plants will need to be covered using a cloche as the colder seasons kick in later.
Don’t forget to ask your neighbour to water your garden whilst you go on holiday! If you have a summer holiday coming up, why not charm your friends and neighbours into keeping an eye on your garden? Nobody wants to come home from a lovely week on the beach to find that their months of hard work have wilted away in a dry spell. You can then either return the favour or say thank you with a big basket of home-grown vegetables!
