Flower Garden Tips for July

In July the perennials will be looking good as will the hardy annuals and half-hardy annuals sown earlier in the year. But what jobs should we be doing now to keep the displays going and in preparation for other seasons?

Support Those Plants

We all have good intentions but how often do we forget to stake tall growing perennial flowering plants before they get too high and start falling over? If this is you, add supports to tall plants such as lupins, delphiniums and gladioli.

Geraniums and Delphiniums

I love growing geraniums but after the first flush of flowers they can start to look a bit untidy. Be brave and cut back your geraniums after their first flush to encourage a second flowering period, feed to help them on their way. Delphiniums can be treated in the same manner.

Hanging Baskets and Containers

If your displays start to look a bit wild or tired, cut back the plants in your baskets and containers and feed to encourage fresh foliage and flower.

Retaining Moisture

It is surprising how quickly some soils can dry out. Help to retain moisture by mulching which will also help to keep the weeds down.

Collect Seed

Don't forget to start collecting the seed of annuals that you have liked this year and would like to try again next year.

Also look out for any perennials that you would like to increase from seed or biennials that you would like to keep going.

Alpines or Rockery Plants

I am sure I am not the only one who finds alpine or rockery plants can develop bare patches in the middle. Rub gritty compost into these areas to encourage re-growth.

Sweet Peas

Keep cutting and bringing them into the house to enjoy their colour and perfume.

Deadhead

To prolong the flowering period regularly deadhead plants and roses. Leave roses that produce attractive hips.

Feed

Liquid feed not just containerised plants but your border plants as well. Foliar feed by spraying with seaweed based fertiliser.

Autumn Flowering Bulbs

Now is the time to plant autumn flowering bulbs such as Colchicum, Sternbergia, Amaryllis and Nerine.

Cuttings

Continue to look for good cutting material to increase your stock for next year. This includes Pinks and Carnations which can also be propagated by layering.

Pests

Pot plants are very vulnerable to vine weevils. If like me this has become an annual battle, water with a proprietary solution.

Also be very vigilant and try to spot any scarlet lily beetle as soon as they appear. They can cause a lot of damage in a very short time.

If the birds and other predators are not keeping up with any explosion in greenfly and blackfly population, squash them between your fingers or blast them with the hosepipe if you are squeamish.

If any of your day lily buds show signs of hemerocallis gall midge, remove and destroy them immediately. The buds will be going brown or showing signs of going over before opening or looking disfigured.

Clematis

If your Clematis starts to die back it may be slug damage or it could be clematis wilt. If you planted your plants deep to ensure healthy buds were buried below the soil, cut stems back to ground level and they may still recover.

Not found what you are looking for?

Custom Search