July Gardening Tips
All the work from earlier in the year is now paying off – gardens are reaching their peak, bursting with colour and fragrance from blooms like roses and sweet peas. However, this vibrant growth does still come with its own demands. Regular watering, ideally in the morning or evening, is essential to keep plants healthy in the summer heat. If watering feels like a chore, it might be time to consider an irrigation system with a timer – a simple way to keep borders thriving, even while you’re away. At Nicholsons, we’re happy to offer advice and installation support.
While there’s always work to be done, we hope you’re finding time to enjoy the long evenings whether relaxing with a book, entertaining friends or simply soaking in the season. Read our July Gardening Tips below.
- Prune wisteria – Summer is the time for a light prune. Trim back the whippy growths to five or six buds from the main stem to keep your wisteria in shape and encourage flowering next year.
- Divide irises – Irises can become congested over time and benefit from division once flowering has finished. Lift the clump, remove the older centre and replant healthy outer rhizomes in groups. Cut foliage back to a fan shape and water in well.
- Check for tomato issues – Look out for blossom end rot, caused by uneven watering and calcium deficiency. Water regularly to prevent both this and splitting. Avoid ghost spot, a fungal disease, by keeping water off the fruit when watering or damping down.
- Harvest seeds from perennials – As seed heads begin to ripen, collect them before they scatter. Pick on dry, sunny days and store seeds in labelled paper bags somewhere cool and dry.
- Thin apples and pears – After the natural June drop, thin remaining fruit by removing the smallest or damaged ones. It may feel counterintuitive but this ensures a stronger, healthier crop in autumn.
- Sow autumn & winter salads – Now’s the time to sow corn salad, rocket and oriental greens like pak choi, Chinese radish and spinach mustard. Many of these look beautiful too and can be grown in ornamental beds as well as the veg patch.
- Sow vegetables for autumn harvests – Use any vacant ground to sow quick-growing crops like lettuce, beetroot and carrots. Revive the soil with organic matter before planting and be sure to keep everything well watered.
- Inspect for woolly aphids – These pests appear as white, fluffy patches on shoots and branches. They can cause distorted growth and spread viruses. Treat infestations with a spray of soapy water – a solution that’s safe for beneficial insects.
- Review your borders – Take a moment to assess your planting combinations. What’s thriving? What’s falling short? Make notes to inform your plans for autumn planting or spring redesigns.
- Plan ahead for holidays – If you’re heading away, make arrangements to ensure your garden stays in good shape. Ask a neighbour or friend to help with watering, mowing and harvesting vegetables or flowers – this keeps everything productive and healthy while you’re gone.
If you require any assistance with your garden, please visit our garden management page. Happy gardening!
