July – a time of peak flowering in the garden

Shrubs, herbaceous perennials, roses and sweet peas are looking fabulous and tubs of summer bedding and hanging baskets are in full bloom.

In the vegetable garden the first potatoes can be dug and broad beans, French beans, beetroots, early carrots and salad crops are ready to harvest. With the recent dry weather, onions and garlic have grown well and strawberries have produced lots of small fruit but are still delicious! Lettuce is a little more demanding though and has required daily watering.

July is a time to enjoy the garden rather than making any new major changes. Now that we have passed the longest day of the year the plants from the Northern Hemisphere have started to fade such as Delphiniums, Iris, Poppy and Lupins. These are replaced with plants originating nearer the equator like Dahlias, Rudbeckia, Heleniums, Echinacea, Crocosmia and Salvias giving colour and interest right through to the Autumn. There are also lots of variety of ornamental grasses to enjoy too with their interesting seed heads.

Watering

You may have spotted some gaps in the borders soil that is dry and hard and not suitable for cultivation. A great idea to overcome this is to plant up a container with some interesting summer plants such as bright yellow or orange crocosmia combined with blue Salvia. Why not add some dark-leaved Dahlia and ornamental grass for height and perhaps some trailing herbs cascading over the edge for further flower and foliage appeal? You can then stand the container in the gap for instant interest.

The summer so far has been hot and dry which is great for outdoor living but this can take its toll on our gardens. Your lawn may have turned dry and brown but don’t worry, it will soon recover when the rain returns. Even when it does rain though it is still a good idea to prioritise watering.

Concentrate on newly planted areas of the garden and use grass clippings as a mulch after watering to help seal in the moisture.  Be sure to check there are no grass seeds in the mix though as this will only add to weeding issues later on. Any organic matter such as garden compost, well-rotted manure and bags of soil improver can be used as a mulch to help retain moisture in the soil. Low growing, ground-cover plants can help prevent the heat of the sun from reaching the soil too.

Move pots and containers to a shadier spot to protect the roots and by placing them in groups of three this will also reduce the amount of heat exposure. Containers and pots require a good water at the base of the plant stem rather than a sprinkle over then top and you can also apply a thick layer of mulch to the surface of pots using horticulture grit or strulch (a mineralised straw product) to reduce water loss. The only down side to using a mulch is knowing when to water but you can test the moisture of the compost by using your finger. Don’t forget to dead head and feed pots and containers every 7 to 10 days too and have water buts ready to collect any rainfall.

Wildlife

During spells of hot weather, it is so important to provide a clean water source so that birds and animals can drink and bathe.  A pond is ideal but a shallow dish is also just as effective.  Always make sure there is easy access in and out of the water as small animals can drown. This can easily be done by placing a rock or large stick in the water to the side so that they can climb out easily if they fall in. You may have noticed bees around your pond or birdbath too. This is because they are collecting moisture to help them build nests. Lots of insects use this technique too so you will be helping so many species if water is provided.

July Plant Highlights

Hemerocallis or Day Lilies are an excellent plant for the garden with brilliant flowers in yellow, orange, reds, purple, lavender and pale pink. They are low maintenance and can tolerate drought and cold winters. This is because they are native to Asia and are thought to have been introduced by traders along the silk route. In 1753 they were given the botanic name of Hemerocallis by Carl Linnaeus, a Swedish naturalist. During the 19^th century botanists, gardeners and growers began crossing two species to produce the thousands of hybrids we see today.

Rudbeckia was another plant that tolerated last year’s heatwave, the flowers feature a raised central disc in black or green-brown shades surrounded by bright yellow or orange petals giving rise to its common name of Blackeyes Suzie or Cone Flower. Rudbeckia is native to North American prairies and requires moist well-drained soil in full sun. When planting, enrich the soil with plenty of organic matter. Depending on the variety, Rudbeckia can be an annual, biannual or perennial with heights ranging from 50cms to 300cms.

Heleniums, like Rudbeckia are a member of the Asteraceae family also originating from America and apparently named after Helen of Troy. The daisy- like flowers are yellow, orange or copper red and it requires moisture retentive soil in full sun and is commonly known as Sneezewort.

Agapanthus is exotic looking with large, loose balls of dark blue, blue, bicoloured or white blooms on strong stems above grass-like foliage. Each year many new varieties are introduced. It is ideal for growing in containers as restricted root growth produces more flowers and it can be easily moved under cover for protection during Winter.  As a guide, the wider and larger the leaf growth and flower size the less hardy the plant compared to the Headbourne hybrids. If you are growing it in borders use well-drained soil in a sunny sheltered position.

Penstemons provide spikes or colourful trumpet-shaped flowers in a range of colours including cream, wine-red, purple and blue. They also flower all summer so are excellent value for money. It was traditionally thought of as a cottage garden plant and looks fantastic growing with ornamental grasses or exotic foliage plants. It requires well drained, fertile soil in a sunny sheltered position and if you take some cuttings, it is easy to root. Keep it somewhere sheltered over Winter to protect it from frosts as this can kill the plant.

Crocosmia - there are hundreds of cultivars and hybrids all descended from a handful of species of this plant, that is native to Southern and Eastern Africa where they were found growing in grassland and at the edge of forests. Originally, when introduced into Britain it was know as Montbretia, a plant often seen in Devon and Cornwall as a garden escape that has since out-competed native plants and become invasive causing environmental issues.

New introductions have produced more manageable sized Crocosmia hybrids and cultivars. The plant is clump–forming with long grassy leaves and twin rows of buds that open into sprays of flowers from yellows to orange. One variety, Emily McKenzie, has orange flowers with brownish throats. It grows best in fertile, well-drained soil in a sunny sheltered location amongst grasses or with other hot bright coloured plants.

Lavenders are a plant for all gardens whether a cottage garden, formal herb garden or modern themed flower bed. Lavender Hidcote with violet flowers is an excellent plant for a dwarf hedge and for edging paths or borders. The grey foliage and perfumed flowers are loved by bees and pollinators. Lavender has been grown in gardens since around 1265 having been introduced from the Mediterranean.

Other plants to fill the July garden with colour include Echinacea’s, hardy Fuchsia’s, Hypericum, roses, clematis, honeysuckle and summer flowering Jasmine.

Gardening Jobs

Prune old fashioned roses, shrub roses and ramblers after flowering. Dead head faded flowers except those grown from Autumn hips. Cut just above a healthy leaf about 3cms or 8cms below an old flower head once the last flush of flowers is over. Feed with either rose feed or general-purpose feed. Water in well or use a liquid tomato feed which is high on potash supporting the development of new flower buds.

Regularly dead head bedding plants and perennials and cut out the old flowered stems of perennials such a s lupins, delphiniums and poppies as they go over.  Watering and feeding may result in further flowering in late summer.

Fruit and Vegetables

As early crops finish, apply fertiliser and lightly fork over the soil. Use the space for sowing carrots, lettuce, spring cabbage, turnips, Kohl rabi, Chinese cabbage, pak choi, rocket and radish. Vegetables, especially salad vegetables, grow fast and it is important to keep crops well-watered. Water runner beans regularly at the base and spray the foliage as this helps to increase humidity. By watering well this will help to prevent beans from growing tough and stringy. Harvest raspberries, red currents, gooseberries and blueberries. Tidy strawberry plants and grow new plants from the runners.

Don’t forget to plant up some seed potatoes - veg patio planters or jute potato planting bags for new potatoes on Christmas Day, use special autumn potatoes, Maris Peer, Pentland Javelin and Charlotte.

These are just a few ideas from the plant team if you need more ideas or tips, we are only too happy to help. From all the plant team, we wish you a fantastic summer and enjoy your gardens.