Gardening in July

July, the month of beautiful arrays of colourful blooms and a time for us to enjoy some warm weather, sit back and relax in our gardens. Although the British weather may not be on our side, it's definitely a month where the choice for summer bedding is abundant! Follow our gardening tips below to ensure you keep your garden looking its best this month and we will keep our fingers crossed for sunshine.

TOP TIPS

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• Deadhead flowers to encourage new buds and more flowers
• Water hanging baskets and containers at least once a day in dry weather
• Sprinkle fertiliser around garden plants and lightly fork in
• Apply liquid feed in damp weather to the lawn to give it a boost
• Deadhead sweet peas regularly to keep them blooming. Water daily in dry weather.

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GENERAL GARDENING

Check clematis for signs of clematis wilt Place plants from Conservatory outside in a sunny area Keep tubs and new plants watered regularly in the heat Give the lawn a quick acting summer feed, especially if a spring feed was not done Give woodwork a lick of paint or preserver, while the weather is dry Mow lawn once a week. In late summer, lawn growth slows down, so raise the cutting height slightly to allow your lawn to resist wear better Feeding your lawn with fertiliser will help to keep it in good condition For a green lawn, use a sprinkler once a week during dry weather. When watering the lawn, soak it to get the water down under the roots Roses should be deadheaded. Look out for black spot. Lightly prune back and apply fertilisers to encourage a second flowering Tie in the long growths of climbing roses, honeysuckles and vines Containers and hanging baskets will need regular watering - make sure the compost is thoroughly soaked Plant leeks for winter Plant your spring crops of cabbage, broccoli and cauliflower (brassicas) Pick beans regularly and keep them well-watered Prune apple and pear trees to allow more light to the ripening fruit and encourage new growth Feed perennials and shrubs with a granular fertiliser such as Organic Chicken Manure Pellets or Growmore and hoe into the soil Feed container plants and hanging baskets with a liquid fertiliser such as Feed-all or Miracle-Gro every week

WILDLIFE GARDENING

Top up bird feeders and put out food on the ground and bird tables Keep the bird bath topped up Plant marigolds around the vegetable patch to attract hoverflies Go bat-watching on a summer evening! Watch out for adult frogs and toads leaving the pond this month Plant annuals and perennials to attract insects Trim hedges less frequently to allow wildlife to shelter and feed in them Leave nesting birds undisturbed in garden shrubs and hedges Mow recently established perennial meadows to reduce weeds Annual meadows do not need mowing Leave roses that produce hips without dead-heading