15 Gardening Tips for July

July heralds the arrival of holidays, long days, and (hopefully) sunny weather, offering you the perfect opportunity to revel in the beauty of your garden. Amidst the essential tasks of watering, weeding, and deadheading to keep everything looking pristine, don’t forget to take moments to relax and appreciate the blooming splendour around you. Here are our top 15 gardening tips for July to help you make the most of this vibrant month.

1. Plan Ahead for Spring Blooms

July is the perfect time to start planning for a spectacular display of flowers next spring. Sow biennials like foxgloves and wallflowers in seed trays or modules in a greenhouse. This early start will give them ample time to establish strong roots before the winter sets in, ensuring they burst into colour next year.

2. Keep Roses Blooming

Deadhead roses regularly to encourage continuous flowering. Sweet peas and cosmos will also reward you with months of blooms if you remove spent flowers consistently. These flowers are excellent for cutting and bringing indoors to enjoy their fragrance and beauty up close. The Burgon & Ball RHS Approved Rose Pruner is the perfect tool for this job!

3. Revitalise Hardy Geraniums

Hardy geraniums can start to look leggy and tired as the summer progresses. Cut them back hard to stimulate a flush of fresh new foliage and flowers. This simple task can breathe new life into your garden beds and borders.

4. Divide Bearded Irises

Once bearded irises have finished their flowering season, lift and divide any overgrown clumps. Replant them with their rhizomes partially exposed to ensure they receive plenty of sunlight, which helps in baking the rhizomes and promoting robust growth.

5. Summer Pruning for Wisteria

Give your wisteria its summer pruning by cutting back all this year’s long, whippy shoots to 5-6 leaves from the main stems. This helps maintain the plant’s shape and encourages better flowering next year.

6. Pinch Out Cordon Tomatoes

To concentrate the plant’s energy on fruit production, pinch out any side shoots on cordon tomatoes. This ensures the plant’s nutrients are directed towards the development of the main fruit-bearing stems.

7. Regular Watering for Tomatoes

Tomatoes, particularly those grown in containers, need regular watering to prevent the soil from drying out. Consistent moisture levels help reduce the risk of fruit splitting, ensuring a bountiful and healthy harvest.

8. Care for Container Plants

In dry weather, container plants require frequent watering. Use stored rainwater whenever possible and water either in the morning or evening to minimise evaporation and make the most of your efforts. The Flopro Compactflo Expandable Hose is a lightweight hose, ideal for smaller and urban gardens, patios, camper vans or boats. This compact hose expands to twice it’s length when in use and when not in use it can be stored compactly, either in a shed or on a hose hanger. Our Flopro hosepipes are also compatible with all watering brands.

9. Succession Sowing for Salad Crops

Sow salad crops like lettuce every couple of weeks to ensure a continuous supply throughout summer. To prevent lettuce from bolting in hot weather, provide shade during the hottest part of the day.

10. Feed Fruit and Vegetables

Plants such as tomatoes, beans, courgettes, peppers, blueberries, and gooseberries will benefit from a fortnightly high-potash liquid feed, like tomato feed. This promotes the development of flowers and fruit, leading to a more abundant harvest. A great feed for your vegetable plants is Levington’s Tomorite Organic Plant Feed, its special formula contains potash and seaweed extract to ensure your plants get all the micronutrients they need for maximum growth and full flavour.

11. Harvest Courgettes and Beans

Pick courgettes and beans regularly to encourage the plants to keep producing more fruit. Regular harvesting not only increases yield but also improves the quality and taste of the vegetables.

12. Pinch Out Broad Bean Tips

Once the pods start to appear, pinch out the growing tips of broad beans. This promotes bushy growth and reduces the risk of blackfly infestations, as these pests are more likely to attack tender young shoots.

13. Earth Up Potatoes

Mound up the soil around the stems of maincrop potatoes to prevent sunlight from reaching the tubers and turning them green, which makes them toxic. Start harvesting the first early potatoes by digging up one or two to check their size. If they’re still too small, leave them to grow for a few more weeks.

14. Plant Autumn Bulbs

July is the ideal time to plant autumn bulbs like nerines and colchicums. These bulbs will reward you with stunning blooms later in the year, adding a splash of colour to your garden as the summer flowers begin to fade.

15. Maintain Your Lawn

Mow the lawn regularly, raising the blades to a higher setting if the weather is dry. This helps keep the grass healthy and prevents it from becoming stressed and scorched by the summer sun.

Make the Most of Your Go-To Garden Centre

Whether you’re looking for plants to fill your borders or garden furniture for summer parties, you’ll find everything you need at Polhill Garden Centre. Our wide range of products and expert advice will help you get the best out of your garden this summer.

Embrace the joy of gardening in July by following these tips. With a little care and attention, your garden will thrive, providing you with a beautiful space to relax and enjoy throughout the summer months. Happy gardening!