July and August are the traditional holiday months but the garden does not take a holiday!
Weeds still grow and plants dry out. After a dryer than usual year there is a real chance
of watering restrictions this summer so do make sure that water butts are collecting as
much rainwater as possible. Put a good thick mulch round trees, shrubs, roses, fruit and
border plants to help conserve moisture. Leafmould, peat, compost and bark chips are good
mulching materials. Newly planted shrubs and perennials will need to be watered, but it is
of no use watering a little every day. Always give them a good soaking and do this at least
once a week. Vegetables need more regular watering as do hanging baskets and window boxes
and plants in pots in the greenhouse. Tomato plants and runner beans must be watered at
regular intervals. If you do go away, try to persuade a nice neighbour or friend to do this
for you. Newly seeded or turfed lawns will need to be watered but never water established
lawns in dry weather. Brown lawns very quickly go green when it does rain. Cut lawns once a
week with mower blades set higher and with the grassbox removed so that the grass clippings
can act as mulch. Ponds will need to be topped up and water should always be provided for
the birds in hot weather. Always well ventilate the greenhouse. In the vegetable garden
spring cabbage, peas, parsley and salads can be sown and onions can start to be lifted.
Watch out for caterpillars of the Cabbage White butterfly on brassicas and nasturtiums.
Keep up with regular spraying of roses to keep black spot and the like away and continue to
dead head as many plants as possible. Keep on top of the weeding but there should be fewer
weeds where mulches have been put down. Prune shrubs after flowering and cut back rambling
roses and lightly trim lavender. Cut out the old canes on raspberries after fruiting and
tie in the new ones. Soft fruit will need some pruning but it is best to study a fruit
manual to see just how to do this. Hedges will need to be cut now.
Now is the time to take cuttings of conifers, pelargoniums, clematis and shrubs such as
hydrangeas, and irises can be divided now. Spring-flowering bulbs such as hyacinths, tulips
and daffodils will soon be on sale but it is really too early to plant these in the garden.
Bulbs in bowls for Christmas flowering should be planted soon. Autumn-flowering crocus and
colchicum bulbs should go in as soon as possible.
Outside your own garden there is much to see this summer. The Hampton Court Palace flower
show is from July 5-10 (tickets 0870 9063790) and the RHS show at Tatton Park is from July
20-24 (tickets 0870 2471239). Chenies Manor plant and garden fair is on Sunday 17 July. Our
own Chipperfield Horticultural Society has its summer show on July 2 and tickets are on
sale for the visit of Pippa Greenwood to Chipperfield on September 22.
Terry Simmonds