With the long warm days of summer finally here, gardens are looking their very best. Here are a few gardening jobs for June that will help you keep your garden looking fantastic throughout the glorious summer months.
It’s high summer now, and your garden will be looking wonderful with lots of summer flowers in full bloom. July is the time to sit back and enjoy your garden whenever possible. However, there are a few gardening jobs for July that will keep it looking at its best, as well as ensuring its health and productivity for the future months and beyond.
The biggest job for July is often watering. While many trees and shrubs can survive long periods without water, newly planted shrubs, and perennials, as well as pots and planters will need a thorough soaking on a regular basis.
Water newly planted shrubs and perennials at the base to avoid getting the leaves wet which could encourage mould, brown spots and fungal diseases.
At this time of year, your lawn will be growing fast, so you will need to mow it at least once a week to keep it in good health. If the weather is very dry, your lawn may need watering to prevent it from going brown and crispy. If the lawn does dry out, don’t worry too much, it will soon perk up once we get some rain. However, do not let newly seeded or turfed lawns dry out as they don’t yet have a good root system to sustain them, and they may die.
You can also give your lawn a feed in July to keep it green and healthy.
Deadhead flowers in pots to ensure continued flowering. If the weather is warm and dry, smaller pots planters and especially hanging baskets may need watering daily, perhaps even twice daily. Plants in pots will also benefit from a liquid feed once a fortnight to keep them looking at their best.
Cut back perennials such as hardy geraniums and delphiniums that have finished flowering and you may get a second flush. Keep weeds at bay as they will take vital light and nutrients from your precious plants. Keep an eye out for pests such as slugs, lily beetles, snails, aphids and vine weevils and remove them before they can do too much damage.
If you are already thinking about next year, there are some things you can do now to prepare. Sow biennials such as foxgloves, sweet William, wallflowers, honesty and forget-me-nots, to plant out in autumn for a glorious display next spring.
Now is the perfect time to take cuttings to produce new plants for next year. You can take cuttings from tender perennials such as fuchsias as well as shrubs.
Take a look at your fruit trees to see if the fruit needs thinning out. In good conditions, fruit trees such as apple, pear and plum, may produce an abundance of fruits. However, this can lead to a crop of small fruits as well as overloaded branches which may break. Remove any excess or damaged fruit now to ensure an even crop of good-sized fruit.
The veggie garden will need watering daily in warm, dry weather. Aim to ensure roots never completely dry out.
Veggies are fruiting now so give them a feed with a general purpose fertiliser weekly. Tomatoes will benefit from a weekly feed with tomato fertiliser, or more often if the leaves look pale and yellow.
Your beetroot, peas, carrots, chard, potatoes, salad leaves, lettuce and tomatoes should be ready for harvesting now. If you grow courgettes, pick them while they are young - they taste better this way, and it also encourages the plants to produce more fruit. Runner beans are also best picked when they are young and tender.
You can also harvest and dry or freeze herbs now for use throughout the colder months.
July is a good time to sow late summer and winter crops such as leeks, carrots, cauliflower, sprouting broccoli, cabbages and dwarf peas.
If you have gaps between your slower growing crops, you can fill them with lettuces, radishes and spring onions.
To keep your veggie garden healthy and productive, clear weeds regularly so they do not take water and nutrients from your crops. You should also clear away any diseased and dead foliage to prevent the spread of disease.
Keep an eye out for pests and remove them before they do too much damage. Remember to check the underside of leaves.
When the weather is hot and dry wildlife can struggle. It’s not just birds that need a drink: insects and mammals will get thirsty, too. You don’t need an elaborate pond or water feature, a bird bath or a shallow planter lined with pebbles will make an attractive feature that will help wildlife throughout the year.
Hopefully, all your hard work throughout the year so far has paid off and your garden is looking wonderful. If there are any changes you would like to make for next year, make a note of them now. I always like to take photos of my garden so I can refer to them when I am planning the next years’ planting.
When you choose Full Potential, you can be assured of a quality finish in everything from the major landscaping elements to the final finishing touches
Our friendly garden experts are always punctual, tidy and professional. You can trust us to take care of your property as if it were our own.
We love to share our passion for gardens and plants. Our enthusiasm means we go the extra mile to create the garden of your dreams.
