Put fresh water out daily for wildlife
As we settle into the heart of July, most of us focus on filling feeders or planting nectar-rich flowers, but we often overlook the most essential requirement for all garden wildlife: fresh, clean water. When the summer sun hits its…
Watering containers in a July heatwave
As we settle into the heart of July here in the UK, the summer sun can quickly transform your container gardens from vibrant displays into parched, struggling pots. With the mercury rising, the limited soil volume in your containers dries…
Keep picking sweet peas
There is something genuinely therapeutic about tending to sweet peas, and fortunately, it is one of the easiest tasks you will encounter in the garden. If you want to keep your vines producing beautiful, fragrant blooms well into the late…
How to recognise and deal with potato blight
Potato blight is a devastating fungal disease that begins by attacking the haulms, but if left unchecked, it is quickly washed into the soil by rainfall, causing the tubers themselves to rot, which renders them either inedible or impossible to…
Sow parsley seeds
There is nothing quite like having a reliable stash of fresh parsley ready at your fingertips, especially when you are midway through a hearty winter soup or brightening up a spring salad. The secret to maintaining this constant green supply…
Pruning rambling roses
July is a busy time in the rose garden, and while many varieties benefit from constant dead-heading to encourage a repeat performance, some roses have reached the end of their flowering season. Most ramblers, particularly those in the warmer southern…
Picking summer fruiting raspberries
There is something truly special about raspberries, and here in the UK, the summer-fruiting varieties are hitting their absolute peak right now in July. It helps to understand how they grow to get the best out of them. Summer-fruiting raspberries…
Supporting plants
As we settle into the heat of July, our garden borders often hit a turning point. The combination of intense sunshine and occasional heavy downpours can trigger a sudden, rapid flush of lush growth that many plants simply cannot support…
Cut back delphiniums
By the time July rolls around, many of our garden borders start to look a bit worn out, particularly the towering delphiniums that provided such a dramatic display earlier in the season. If yours have finished their initial flowering, do…
Cut back hardy geraniums
If you have hardy geraniums that have finished their first flush, now is the perfect time to give them a bit of tough love. Don’t be afraid to cut these plants right back to the ground. It might feel counter-intuitive…