Gardening in July: Embrace the Peak of Summer
July is always a busy month for Gardenesque. Our lovely customers keep us busy with their summer orders, so we're always sending out lots of Garden Furniture, beautiful Terracotta and gardening accessories like our Potting Bench to those wanting to make the most of the warmer weather.
As much as I love the hectic-ness of July, I equally love the tranquility I head home to, and find in my garden. Fresh breakfasts and dinners I forage from the fruits of my gardening labour make July one of the more rewarding gardening months. Join me, as I tell you all about my tasks for this July in my garden!
Mid-Summer Harvesting and Maintenance
Everyone knows, July is prime time for harvesting a variety of fruits and vegetables we've been growing all summer in our Allotment Box (pictured above) Now is the time to enjoy the abundance of tomatoes, cucumbers, courgettes, and beans, and remember that frequent harvesting helps your plants with continued production. My personal favourites are berries like strawberries, raspberries, and blackberries. They're typically just now ripening, perfect for summer treats.
The more repetitive tasks, such as deadheading spent flowers is crucial to keep your garden looking fresh and to encourage new blooms. In my garden, I like to focus on roses, in particular, for a continuous display that looks gorgeous for longer. As much as I can, I try to keep up with weeding, as the warm weather accelerates growth, especially in my sunny London garden. I make sure I'm watering the garden often, especially during dry spells; I do it early in the morning or late in the evening as this minimises evaporation and help the soil retain moisture.
I've also been finding amazing results from our Self-Watering Planters. They help regulate my water usage, and keep my plants hydrated without me having to worry.
Planting for Late Summer and Autumn
While my gorgeous summer flowers are in full bloom, I spend this time to think ahead. I love using plant biennials such as foxgloves and wallflowers now for a stunning display next year. If you're after late summer colour, plant dahlias, cosmos, and sunflowers and they will look great into the coming months.
July is also a great time to sow seeds for autumn and winter vegetables like kale, cabbage, and broccoli. I often do this to prolong my harvest into the autumn. These will ensure a continuous supply of fresh produce as the weather cools. Make sure to protect young plants from pests with cloches or netting, and always keep an eye out to monitor for signs of disease.
If you're interested in what you can plant seasonally, I find the National Trust has a great selection of resources you can read online.
Pond Maintenance
If like me, you have a pond, July I always find is a key month for maintenance. It's time to remove the blanket weed and fallen leaves to keep the water clear. I always like to use this opportunity to top up the water levels, especially during hot weather, and if you like you can consider adding a pump or fountain for aeration. It's important to regularly check the health of your pond plants and trim back any overgrowth.
Planning for Future Seasons
Even during the height of summer, I find it’s essential to plan for the future. I love to take note of what’s thriving and what could be improved. Together with my husband, last year we sketched out new garden designs that this year we've used to enhance functionality and beauty of our garden. My favourite part of our garden this year is my "Potting Corner" where I've added our Garden Potting Bench to a secluded corner of the garden where I can potter and plant to my hearts content.
I've recently encouraged my friends to start a compost heap. They're a great project for July! I use garden waste, kitchen scraps, and grass clippings to create rich compost that will nourish my plants next spring. Composting is an eco-friendly way to recycle organic material and improve soil health.
And so...
July in the garden is a time of vibrancy, maintenance, and planning. Embrace the warmth and enjoy the fruits of your labour. Happy gardening!
Warm regards,
Ali Wooldridge
Founder, Gardenesque
Did you know, this month is Wild about Wildlife month! Read up on our Wildlife Blog Posts here...
