Gardener's diary - July gardening
Our Guide to July Gardening.
July is one of the nicest months for enjoying the garden.
As with other summer months there is plenty of work to be getting on with, pruning, watering and mowing!
As with other summer months there is plenty of work to be getting on with, pruning, watering and mowing!
Herbaceous Perennials
After flowering cut down Delphiniums to about 10-15cm (4-6 inches) from the ground. Keep the plants moist and you may get a second flush of flowers later in the season.
If you intend to replant bearded irises in August then prepare the soil now.
Regular spraying of plants with fungicide to prevent mildew is recommended. Change the type of fungicide that you use regularly because the plants can become immune if you use the same type.
Seedlings are now growing strongly and can be thinned out. Water regularly to encourage strong root growth.
Take cuttings of pinks after flowering.
If you intend to replant bearded irises in August then prepare the soil now.
Regular spraying of plants with fungicide to prevent mildew is recommended. Change the type of fungicide that you use regularly because the plants can become immune if you use the same type.
Seedlings are now growing strongly and can be thinned out. Water regularly to encourage strong root growth.
Take cuttings of pinks after flowering.
Hardy Annuals
Dead head regularly to encourage fresh growth. Remove large weeds. Try to avoid walking on the soil around the plants.
Biennials
Plant biennial seeds in prepared nursery beds and water regularly.
Half-Hardy Annuals
As for hardy annuals.
Shrubs
Shrubs which flowered in spring now have new growth that benefits from a dressing of high potash fertilizer. Shrubs pruned back in spring will be flowering now.
Continue with routine tasks, keeping a check on pests and diseases and water well.
Continue with routine tasks, keeping a check on pests and diseases and water well.
Climbers and Wall Plants
Plants such as Weigela florida have new shoots growing. Remove old growth back to the new. Remove dead wood completely.
Trees
As for June.
Hedges
Newly planted hedges - as for June.
Prune hedges such as Buxus sempervirons (box) and Ilex aquifolium (common holly). Slow growing hedges such as these only need to be trimmed once a year towards the end of this month. Laurel and Eleangus should be trimmed using secateurs, taking off any straggly offshoots.
Newly planted conifers should be sprayed with water regularly to prevent them from drying out.
Prune hedges such as Buxus sempervirons (box) and Ilex aquifolium (common holly). Slow growing hedges such as these only need to be trimmed once a year towards the end of this month. Laurel and Eleangus should be trimmed using secateurs, taking off any straggly offshoots.
Newly planted conifers should be sprayed with water regularly to prevent them from drying out.
Heathers
Now is the time to propagate from cuttings. Cover cuttings with paper or Hessian on sunny days to give the cuttings a better chance of taking root.. Ensure that compost used for heather cuttings is lime-free. Use healthy half-ripened shoots.
June is also a good time to collect flowering spikes for drying out to use in flower arrangements. Spray each spike with hair lacquer to keep flowers in place. Cut stems on a slant, and then insert stems into a large, firm potato, making sure stems are not touching. Place the potato in a cool dark place and the heathers will be dried out in 2 months. Remove from the potato and spray again with hair lacquer or some other form of fixative. Store in a cardboard box lined with tissue paper.
June is also a good time to collect flowering spikes for drying out to use in flower arrangements. Spray each spike with hair lacquer to keep flowers in place. Cut stems on a slant, and then insert stems into a large, firm potato, making sure stems are not touching. Place the potato in a cool dark place and the heathers will be dried out in 2 months. Remove from the potato and spray again with hair lacquer or some other form of fixative. Store in a cardboard box lined with tissue paper.
Bulbs and Corms
Summer flowering lilies should be checked for lily beetle and aphids. Spray regularly with insecticide.
Lift, divide and store daffodils and hyacinths, drying under cover and avoiding excessive warmth which can cause rot.
Plant winter flowering crocuses. Collect and sow the seeds from spring flowering crocuses. It will take 3 years from germination until flowers first appear.
Naturalized bulbs (planted in lawns and meadows) are finished flowering so now is a good time to mow the grass around them. This can be done once or twice more before winter flowering plants come through.
Spring flowering bulbs are dormant and can be lifted and divided where needed. This is especially important with some species as overcrowding can ruin the display of flowers.
Lift, divide and store daffodils and hyacinths, drying under cover and avoiding excessive warmth which can cause rot.
Plant winter flowering crocuses. Collect and sow the seeds from spring flowering crocuses. It will take 3 years from germination until flowers first appear.
Naturalized bulbs (planted in lawns and meadows) are finished flowering so now is a good time to mow the grass around them. This can be done once or twice more before winter flowering plants come through.
Spring flowering bulbs are dormant and can be lifted and divided where needed. This is especially important with some species as overcrowding can ruin the display of flowers.
Alpines
Flowering is just about over in heated and unheated houses and frames. Keep frames open as much as possible to ensure adequate ventilation and save on watering during wet spells. However, do cover high-alpines as they may not survive summer storms.
Continue to pot up seedlings and re-pot plants which have flowered. Continue propagation by cuttings and collecting and sowing seeds.
In rock gardens plants such as Campanula and other alpines will be in full flower, continuing the display as spring flowering plants finish.
Dwarf phlox has finished flowering and should be cut back with shears to keep the plant compact and provide a better display next year.
Water newly planted areas and raised beds during dry spells.
Continue to pot up seedlings and re-pot plants which have flowered. Continue propagation by cuttings and collecting and sowing seeds.
In rock gardens plants such as Campanula and other alpines will be in full flower, continuing the display as spring flowering plants finish.
Dwarf phlox has finished flowering and should be cut back with shears to keep the plant compact and provide a better display next year.
Water newly planted areas and raised beds during dry spells.
Lawns
Continue with routine jobs.
Start preparing the site for new lawns to allow the soil to settle before laying or planting. Clear rubble and perennial weeds, checking drainage, then adjust the level before cultivating the soil. Try to ensure uniform depth of topsoil, a minimum of 15cm (6 inches), although 23cm (9 inches) is preferable.
Start preparing the site for new lawns to allow the soil to settle before laying or planting. Clear rubble and perennial weeds, checking drainage, then adjust the level before cultivating the soil. Try to ensure uniform depth of topsoil, a minimum of 15cm (6 inches), although 23cm (9 inches) is preferable.
Plants that are in flower in July
Annuals and Biennials:
- Ageratum
- Agrostemma
- Alyssum
- Anchusa
- Antirrhinum
- Bartonia
- Begonia
- Calceolaria
- Calendula
- Centaurea
- Chrysanthemum
- Cobaea
- Convulvus
- Coreopsis
- Dahlia
- Delphinium
- Dianthus
- Digitalis
- Dimorphotheca
- Echium
- Eschscholzia
- Gaillardia
- Gazania
- Godetia
- Gypsophila
- Heliotropium
- Iberis
- Impatiens
- Lathyrus
- Lavatera
- Limnanthes
- Linaria
- Linum
- Lobelia
- Matricaria
- Matthiola
- Mimulus
- Nemesia
- Nemophila
- Nicotiana
- Papaver
- Petunia
- Phacelia
- Phlox
- Portulaca
- Salvia
- Tagetes
- Viola
- Viscaria
- Zinnia
Border Perennials:
- Achillea filipendulina
- Aconitum napellus
- Alchemilla mollis
- Alstroemeria aurantiaca
- Anchusa azurea
- Astilbe arendsii
- Campanula spp.
- Catananche caerulea
- Centranthus ruber
- Coreopsis grandiflora
- Delphinium hybrids
- Dianthus allwoodii
- Dictamnus albus
- Erigeron speciosus
- Gaillardia aristata
- Gypsophila paniculata
- Hemerocalis hybrids
- Heuchera hybrids
- Linum narbonense
- Lychnis chalcedonica
- Lythrum salicaria
- Meconopsis cambrica
- Monarda didyma
- Nepeta mussinii
- Penstemon gloxinioides
- Platycodon grandiflorum
- Polemonium caeruleum
- Potentilla hybrids
- Scabiosa caucasica
- Sidalcea malvaeflora
- Thalictrum dipterocarpum
- Tradescantia virginiana
- Trollius ledebouri
- Verbascum hybridum
Rockery Perennials:
- Anacyclus depressus
- Androsace lanuginosa
- Aster alpinus
- Campanula spp.
- Cerastium tomentosum
- Dianthus spp.
- Dodecatheon meadia
- Erigeron mucronatus
- Erinus alpinus
- Geranium cinereum
- Geum reptans
- Gypsophila repens
- Helianthemum spp.
- Helichrysum bellidioides
- Leontopodium alpinum
- Linnaea borealis
- Lithospermum diffusum
- Lychnis alpine
- Lysimachia nummularia
- Mazus reptans
- Mimulus primuloides
- Onosma tauricum
- Penstemon pinifolius
- Sedum spp.
- Sempervivum tectorum
- Sisyrinchium spp.
- Thymus serpyllum
- Verbascum spp.
Bulbs:
- Begonia
- Brodiaea
- Camassia
- Cardiocrinum
- Cyclamen europaeum
- Gladiolus (Species)
- Iris (Xiphium group)
- Gladiolus (Hybrids)
- Iris (Xiphium group)
- Scilla nonscripta
- Scilla peruviana
- Sparaxis
- Trillium
- Tritonia
Shrubs:
- Buddleia davidii
- Callicarpa species
- Calluna vulgaris
- Carpenteria californica
- Daboecia cantabrica
- Erica terminalis
- Erica vagens
- Eucryphia species
- Indigofera species
- Lavandula species
- Lupinus arboreus
- Olearia species
- Potentilla species
- Santolina species
- Spiraea - summer flowering
- Symphoricarpos species
Trees:
- Koelreuteria paniculata
- Liriodendron tulipifera
