“What can we do to keep our gardens looking their best in July? Although we have passed the longest day and the nights will start to draw in - fear not. There are still plenty of long Summer lazy garden days ahead. July in the garden can be a busy time for weeding, watching out for pests but mainly sitting back and enjoying your hard work, soaking in those colours and beautiful scents. Here are my top tips for keeping busy during July in the garden.” - Paraic

Gardening Tips

Grow Your Own

Now's a lovely time for sowing, especially with the good stretch in the evenings:

• Get your spring flowers in now. Foxgloves, Wallflowers, Honesty; they'll cheer you next year.
• Pop in a few rows of beetroot, radish or chard; handy veg come autumn.
• Last chance this week for peas and dwarf beans; don’t forget the strawberry runners too!
• Keep the watering going, especially for courgettes, celery, and tomatoes; they're gasping in this heat.

Garden and Lawn Maintenance

A bit of care now, and you’ll have a garden to be proud of well into autumn:

• Give shrubs and hedges a good feed with Pro 6; they’ll thank you for it.
• Deadhead your roses, tie up tall dahlias, and keep bird baths topped up in the dry.
• Houseplants feel the heat too; a little feed and a wipe goes a long way.
• Hoe the borders, water your containers well; especially the ones tucked up near a wall.

Flower Care

Plenty of colour left to enjoy yet – sure the garden’s only hitting its stride:

• Still time to add summer flowers; we'd love to see your photos and ideas!
• Short on time? We’ve ready-made baskets and pots; just lift, place and enjoy.
• Lavender’s perfect now; snip and hang it to dry for a lovely scent later on.
• Trim back perennials, and try taking a few shrub cuttings; we’ve everything you need in-store.

Protecting Your Garden

Keep an eye out for those pests! A little prevention now saves a lot down the line:

• Watch for vine weevil; nematodes are a grand natural way to stop the damage.
• Aphids are on the go with the warmth; net your cabbages to block the butterflies.
• Check your trees for rust or mildew; a bit of Fungus Clear will sort it.
• There’s a blight warning out this week; don’t wait, treat your spuds and tomatoes today.

Paraic's Plant Picks For July

What's New At Horkans This July