Table of Contents
The fruit garden
Top fruit such as apples and pears routinely produce more fruit than the tree can bring to full ripeness. They naturally shed lots of these immature fruits during June in what is known as the ‘June drop’, but this is rarely enough, so it is a good idea to come along afterwards to finish the job, not least because this prevents trees from overdoing it one year, and needing to take a year off the next. Thin out fruits that are clumped closely together so that just one or two is left at each point, and picture the ideal size of the final fruit. The idea is to ensure that each remaining fruit has enough space to achieve it.
Flowers
The challenge through July is to keep flowering going for as long as possible, especially in repeat-flowering perennials and roses and in bedding plants and annuals. To this end it is a good idea to spend a little time each week going around and nipping off spent flowers. Once flowers are over, the plant receives the signal that all pollinating has been done, and it is time to move on to the next phase – setting seed – and they lose all drive to keep flowering. By continually thwarting their seed setting mechanism we keep them in flower. Regular doses of liquid fertiliser will also help to keep plants blooming all through summer.
Lawns
You can keep mowing all through this month, but it is a good idea to stop during drought, should one hit. Lawns can start to look a bit tired in July so if you have the option, set your mower blades a little higher than you did in early summer, which will help the grass to put up with the ravages of summer. In dry, hot weather the grass may start to develop brown patches but do not panic. There is no need to get the sprinkler out as it will green up as soon as rains reappear, and they’re never too far away.
Greenhouse
The greenhouse can become overheated on hot days which can lead to plant stress, wilting and leaf burn, and will increase the need for watering. It is sensible to have some shade netting in place now or if not then to paint the glass on the outside with shade paint, which will deflect some of the rays. You can leave the doors and any windows open day and night now, and during hot spells you should ‘damp down’ inside – water the floor to cool the temperature – each morning and again in the afternoon.
