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We are into July and hopefully you are enjoying outdoor living in the garden. The BBQ should be under way and friends are admiring what you have achieved. Citronella candles or lanterns are an effective garden accoutrement and provide a lovely ambience on summer evenings. It’s now about keeping the garden going and staying on top of the maintenance.
Give the lawn it’s final high Nitrogen weed and feed this month and keep it watered during dry spells to keep it at it’s best through to the Autumn.
Perennial plants can be deadheaded as they fade, to prevent them producing seed and cut back to a bud to encourage a second flush of flowers. If you wish to collect seed allow a small number of flower heads to set seed and be ready to collect them when the seed pod is ready to open. Sow them straight away, over-winter and you should have plenty of new plants for next year. Similarly trim back annuals to get extra growth. Still time to take cuttings particularly shrubs for next year. Wisteria and Magnolia can be pruned this time of year but other shrubs should now be left until spring or else new growth will be susceptible to frost damage through the winter. Also deadhead roses if they are repeat flowering or leave the flowers if your rose produces hips. Divide thick clumps of spring bulbs and replant. Maintain the battle against pests and diseases, keep the borders weeded (if you can face it) and use glyphosate weed killers on persistent weeds especially the dreaded bind weed.
The vegetable garden should be well into production by now with numerous crops to take, especially new potatoes. Constant picking encourages plants to produce more flower and provides a mass of tender young vegetables. Avoid beans from getting too large especially Runners as they will get stringy and stop flowering. Stay on top of tomato side shoots and watch out for signs of blight, remove lower leaves to allow air to circulate and cut out any signs of blight and do not compost. As you clear salad crops, re-sow for a second crop and use a high potash fertiliser to keep everything going. Herbs can be picked and frozen in bags for use during the winter.
Do not be afraid to thin out fruits to allow the best to grow to a good size, maintain regular potash feeds and keep fighting the pests and diseases that will be evident by now. Check how many times certain pesticides and fungicides can be used which should be on the label. Also continue to lightly prune stone fruit even if you lose some of the crop to ensure continued cropping next year. Winter pruning leaves the tree susceptible to disease and should be avoided.
Start thinking about spring bulbs which are best planted in the Autumn......and pour yourself a drink and enjoy it all.
We are always looking for new members and try to encourage a fun attitude towards friendly competition. So if you want to grow your own fruit, vegetables and flowers or even enter any of the 3 shows we hold each year, then please get in touch, we would be happy to hear from you.
If you are interested in becoming a new member, (all ages are welcome), please contact Rosey on: 01634 377812 (evenings) or Email: rosemary@ringwoodaccounting.co.uk
Sean Barry - Upchurch Horticultural Society
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