July’s Gardening Jobs

It’s been a funny few weeks for me and the good ol’ English weather. A wonderful weekend trip with friends featuring a picnic tea with rounds of laughter so insistent there were tears, followed by a visit to fields of delphiniums (who knew that was a thing?!) which will later be turned into natural petal confetti. I’ve also been so lucky to have my first visit to the Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival with my course companions! Having known them since September 2021 when we embarked on the journey together to begin our Diploma in Garden Design, we spent time together each week during our lessons and thousands of messages back and forth of questions, answers and support whilst working through coursework. So it’s only right that we’ve all finally managed to get together in person and it was wonderful! I know that we’re all going to be a constant support system in the coming years as our design studios build and develop and I honestly don’t think I could do it without them.

I managed to slip in the purchase of a few plants and a handful of foxglove seed varieties (which I’ll be sowing this weekend) to add to my garden as well as my allotment ‘planting scheme experiments’. I believe there’s nothing better than real hands on experience with a plant to learn the conditions it thrives in, the growing habits and seasons of interest. This enables me to live by the mantra ‘right plant, right place’ as when you choose the right conditions it enables your plants to thrive without as much input from you. This way you can spend more time enjoying your beautiful garden and less time on the care and attention part of it. Which leads me to a few jobs you can be completing this month…

Keep picking your sweet peas

To keep those sweet pea plants flowering as long as possible, make sure you’re regularly picking the flowers. Bring them inside and enjoy the colours and scent.

Take photos of your garden

Throughout the rest of the summer and early autumn, take photos of your garden to reference back to later in the year when considering planting adjustments.

Gwen with Geranium Rozanne

Sow quick crops

Carrots, radish, beetroot and spring onions are all examples of quick crops that you can sow outside now to enjoy in weeks to come. Home grown always tastes so much nicer than shop bought vegetables.

Prune back lavender

Once the lavender flowers have started to fade, snip them off to hang in bunches to dry and use for scented DIY projects. I’m a big fan of craft projects and generally have about 5 on the go at any time.

Keep feeding those post and fruiting crops

Give all pots and fruiting crops (such as tomatoes) a weekly feed. I’m personally favouring seaweed feed this year and am having some good results from it. I try to stick to natural and organic products as much as possible.

Cabbage in mixed flower border

 Enjoy

As always, my main advice is to sit back and enjoy it! With the warm weather we’re having make sure you spend time in your garden and revel in that extra living space you have!