Advice & Inspiration
Related articles
Garden Jobs for July
July is the month when most gardens are looking their best. The long, warm summer evenings mean that there’s more time for a bit of after-work gardening - but don’t forget to relax and enjoy the rewards of your hard work too!
Here’s our round-up of garden jobs for July:
1. Watering
Cooler evenings are the best time to water, as less water evaporates and more filters down to the plants’ roots. On very hot days you may even have to water twice a day. It’s generally better to water for longer and less often, giving the ground a really good soak. However if you’re growing a lot of vegetables which have shallow root systems, it’s best to water more frequently.
2. Feed Fruit and Vegetable Plants
3. Keep slugs under control
4. Peg down Strawberry runners
5. Prune Fruit Trees
These trees should be pruned in July after flowering: Apple, Apricot, Cherry, Damson, Mulberry, Nectarine, Peach, Pear and Quince. Your aim is to open up the tree canopy to allow air to circulate and prevent pests and diseases. It also helps more sunlight to reach the ripening fruits and keeps the tree to a manageable shape. Reduce the lead shoot at the end of each branch by half - but only the current season’s growth - you’re not cutting into woody growth at this point. This will encourage side-shoots to grow. Cut the remaining side-shoots along each branch to two or three buds from where the current season’s leafy growth starts, cutting just above a bud. This will encourage short fruiting spurs to form.
6. Support and tie in climbers
Flowering and foliage climbers are growing vigorously right now - if you’re training them up a structure, you’ll need to tie in their branches or stems to encourage them to grow where you want them to. Climbing peas and beans may also need more support - read our guide here.
7. Deadhead annuals
8. Weeding
9. To Mow or not to Mow
