Summer weather is toasting parts of the UK this weekend, meaning many Britons will be getting out into their garden to enjoy the sunshine. While there are some activities experts warn green-fingered Britons should stay away from during warmer spells, there are also some key jobs which you should be focussing on this month.
Experts from the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) share three key jobs to do as part of their list of gardening essentials and jobs to do in July. Though the UK has experienced a fairly damp July, usually this is one of the hottest months of the year, which is why these jobs are so essential.
Deadhead flowers
Deadheading flowers not only keep plants looking attractive but can also play a crucial role in encouraging more blooms. It’s a task that can be undertaken on all kinds of flowering plants this year, from beds and borders to containers, pots and hanging baskets.
Gardeners should aim to deadhead flowers as soon as the flowers start to fade.
“Deadheading is the process of removing spent flowers from plants to encourage more blooms and prevent seed production. This helps to redirect the plant’s energy into producing more flowers rather than producing seeds,” explained the RHS.
“To deadhead plants with thick, tough or stringy stems, use secateurs, scissors or a knife. On most plants, trim away the spent flower, cutting back to just above the next bud or leaf on the stem.
“For plants that produce heads of multiple flowers, such as delphiniums and lupins, pinch or trim off individual flowers where practical and then prune the entire head to just above a lower bud/leaf/side shoot, or to ground level, once all have finished.”
Make sure plants are getting enough water
It likely goes without saying, but in periods of high heat and minimal rainfall, your watering schedule may need to increase. This includes watering your lawn.
Plants in pots will need more water than plants growing in a border. The RHS said: “A large plant in a small pot will need more frequent watering than one planted in a border.
“In a border, the roots are free to grow wherever they are able to find water and hence draw moisture from a much larger volume of soil than if the roots are confined in a pot. Plants that are potbound dry out particularly quickly.”
Pick tomato fruit
Tomato plants tend to thrive in the summer months thanks to the sunshine and warm temperatures, meaning you may begin to see it produce a beautiful harvest of fruit.
In most cases, tomato fruits will be ready to pick towards the end of July, so it’s worth keeping an eye on your plant towards the end of the month. “Check plants every few days and pick tomatoes individually, with the stalk still attached, as soon as they’re ripe and fully coloured,” said the RHS.
Removing mature tomatoes also lightens the load on your plant.