TINA WOODHAMS GARDENING NOTES FOR JULY
July is a month where we can all get out and use our gardens for longer, be it sitting relaxing or sharing a glass or two with family and friends. So here are some tips for making the most of our outdoor space!
Water pots first thing in the morning and in the evening when it is cooler and direct sun will not evaporate the water before it has had chance to drain into the pot. Ensure that you water directly into the soil to feed the roots and not onto leaves or stems as this will cause your plants to rot. Place pots on a saucer or tray to reduce water waste. Adding a mulch on top of the soil will keep roots cool and retain moisture underneath.
Regularly deadhead bedding plants to encourage a longer flowering season, this applies to roses too and if you are lucky you may even get not just a second but a third show!
In the borders, cut back early flowering perennials that have faded to help ensure a second bloom later in the summer. Keep on top of the weeding! A short period of hoeing or hand-weeding regularly is better than one big weeding session (and less tiring) and will allow your plants to grow freely. Edging the lawn around borders prevents the grass from spreading into your beds whilst maintaining their shape.
Think ahead and sow delphinium, campanula, pansy, foxglove, geum and wallflower all for flowering the following year.
In the vegetable garden direct sow root vegetables such as carrots, beetroot and radish for an autumn crop together with french and runner beans and peas for a final crop in the autumn. Now is the time to think about sowing the crops that will feed you throughout the winter – including spring cabbage and perpetual spinach. Plant out brassica plants - purple sprouting broccoli, calabrese, cabbage and Brussels sprouts, and remember to net these to protect against bird and caterpillar damage.
Remain vigilant for pests and diseases. Contrary to us perhaps thinking that fungus is caused by wet conditions, it is actually the warm weather and dry soil which encourages powdery mildew, so it is important to keep plants regularly mulched and watered. Remove and destroy any leaves that are affected by this white powdery deposit. Adequate spacing when planting out will improve airflow and reduce the possibility of mildew forming.
Aphids multiply rapidly in warm weather and can be removed by hand or with a quick blast using the hose, or a soapy spray made using washing up liquid and water. Encourage natural predators such as ladybirds and lacewings into your garden to feed on the aphids.
Don’t be complacent about slugs! Although the dry, hot weather means less slugs are visible in our garden they are still lurking and all it takes is a few summer downpours to spur them into action again!
So with all this in mind, enjoy the fruitfulness of your gardens but, as the idiom states,“ Don’t rest on your laurels” and remain alert.
Happy Gardening!