Gardening Month by Month - July

JULY GARDENING

In July, I like to take it a little easier than in June although there is still loads to do in the gardening world. July and August are the months when the garden is in a position to give you more back and at this time of the year, barbecues, kicking back in the warm summer sun and enjoying the fruits of your labour should be at the top of the list!

The main tasks and priorities this month are:

Water, water, water. If the summer is warm and the ground is dry, remember to water plenty and often. Evening time is best so that the plants get the benefit of the damp ground watt through the night. If it's too warm and you water the garden early in the day, it will evaporate before your plants get the goodness out of it.

Keep fertilising plants that require it and also continue to remove dead growth and keep new growth on plants in check.

It's the time to sow plants like Sweet William, Hollyhocks, English Daisies, and Foxgloves into a prepared patch for bloom next year. Again, as usual, follow the instructions on the packet for guidance.

In late July, cuttings can be taken from Geraniums for indoor bloom indoors, they can then be put out into the garden next Springtime.

Take flower cutting indoors for vases and decorative uses as well. Enjoy the blooms all through your living areas. Why not share a few arrangements with friends and neighbours? Again, another great way to show off your gardening prowess.

Watch out for pests, especially on cabbage and lettuce. Caterpillars will be trying to eat them now. Remove them. Ok, it's not very friendly but I like to squash them using a lollypop stick or the blunt end of a plant marking stick so as not to damage the vegetables.

The fruit need protecting as well. Make sure slugs and birds can easily get at the fruits.

Slugs and snails are a big problem at this time of the year and there are many ways of keeping them away from your fruit and veg. Try a plastic pot with a drop of beer placed in the soil so that the top is level with the top of the soil. The beer attracts them, well wouldn't it do the same for us, and you can catch and exterminate them easier.