What to do in the garden in July

In July, the garden is colored, with bright pink hollies, magenta poppies and fiery helminths. One of my favorite new plants I added last year was undoubtedly the bold Digitalis x valinii Illumination Raspberry, which produces deep pink flowers with apricot-colored spots: it is a perennial plant, but it is not very resistant so it is best to grow it in a sheltered place and in a well-drained soil. In my garden it survived the winter, with temperatures as low as -6 ° C. But now that it has reached a certain height, it needs to be propped up. At this time of the year I always put supports, even makeshift things to save the tall ammi, the dahlias or the swaying bluebells. I use reeds and twine, which soon become practically invisible among the foliage and flowers.

The garden is also lush and I love to weave flowers with vegetables. The effect is not the most orderly, but I strongly believe in companion plants and I like to insert poppies, linaria, verbena and marigolds at the edges of the flower beds. The blooms attract pollinators and insects useful to keep pests such as aphids and carrot fly under control, and in any case make everything more colorful. Not to mention that this is how I have flowers for the house.

• Use collected rainwater to water the plants
• Harvest sweet peas every few days to prolong flowering
• Cut back early summer perennials
• Feeding and decapitating roses to prolong their flowering
• Plant fall bulbs, such as nerine
• Sow the biennials if you failed to do so last month
• Check beans and other crops for aphids
• Sow salad leaves, beets and turnips

• Spring cabbage
• Turnips
• Oriental vegetables such as pak choi
• Chicory
• Fennel
• Autumn / winter salads
• Leeks
• Brassica
• Spinach
• Kidney beans
• Chard from ribs
• Carrots
• Peas

• Dahlias will bloom in abundance by the end of the month. Tall stems will need to be supported and held upright to keep the heavy flowers in place. Collect flowers regularly to make others appear. An organic algae-based nourishment every two weeks will keep plants healthy and give you tons of flowers until the first frosts.
• Greenhouses need ventilation at this time of year. Keep windows and doors open during hot weather. Water early in the morning or in the evening and “wet” the paths and floors to create some moisture. If necessary, apply a shading paint to the glass.
• Feed tomatoes and peppers regularly and keep removing side shoots to keep plants strong. If growing tomatoes outdoors, water early in the morning and at the roots to avoid late blight. Tie the sprouts of the tomatoes in a cord to prevent the heavy branches from breaking.
• Prune the wisteria. The new long shoots can be cut about 15 cm from the main branches. This operation can be repeated in January and February. If your prized wisteria appears weak or has failed to flower, check for cochineal.
• Thin out the biennial seedlings sown in June. If they have been sown in a seedbed, space out the seedlings and make sure the bed is free of weeds. If you’ve been captivated by the beauty of foxgloves this year, you still have time to sow a batch for next year.
• Cut the herbs to dry. Marjoram and oregano can be harvested for drying now, before the flowers arrive. Lavender can be cut when it is about to bloom – dried flowers are a great natural repellent for moths, as well as being useful in the kitchen. Basil can be sown directly outdoors now, or in clay pots for window sill herbs in the coming months.
• Regularly remove spent flowers from pelargonium and other bedding plants. This will ensure continuous flowering throughout the summer. If the Nemesias, Diascias and Petunias have already gone to seed, give them a small cut to remove the seed heads and a liquid algae-based nutrient, which will reward you with a second bloom within a couple of weeks.
• If you have a garden pond, make sure weeds are removed regularly. During hot weather, make sure the water level is always topped up for the health of plants and fish. Eliminate aquatic plants from the head and remove invasive plants before they take over.
• Cut flowers will be abundant in July. Make sure sweet peas are harvested daily and watered properly to encourage more flowering. Larkspur, zinnias, marigolds, and dahlias look great in pots. Macleaya, filipendula and phlox are some of the many perennials that can be used for larger pots, to create a floral scenography at home.