Flower Tasks for July

On growing & arranging this month

JULY FLOWER GROWING TASKS

The work has been done now, with everything planted, we can drop a gear or two and enjoy the summer for the next two months. Most are ‘titivating’ jobs; yes water pots daily, cut sweet peas and dead head. But mostly, relax and appreciate the fruits of your labour so far this year.

1. Pick flowers and dead head

   After all, that’s what all this was for! To keep flowers coming, keep harvesting and pinch off the spent flowers to stop plants running to seed. If they do, collect the seeds (how to save and why your own saved seed is always better)

2. Stake plants

   If you take nothing else from this, stake your plants when you plant! Use canes and string, jute netting or pretty chestnut hurdles. Whatever, just give the plants some support as they grow, including dahlias, ammi & cosmos. #10 of my Flower Growing Manifesto is staking, How I do it.

   

   Tying in jute netting to rebar just a few weeks ago over tiny sunflowers and dahlias. The plants have pushed through this now and begining to flower. Plants love to be supported, either by each other or staking.

3. Clear Biennials

   Now they’ve all finished flowering, these can be cleared and late summer half hardy annuals (cosmos, nicotiana, zinnias) planted in their place. If you don’t have anything to plant, see below! (I lost loads of seedlings in the heat way - if in doubt plant it out - they hate to be sitting in trays)

4. Green Manures

   So, if you’ve cleared ground but don’t have anything to plant out, or have lots of space around immature plants, sow green manures directly onto the soil. These are great fast growing plants that bring nutrients up, open up the soil, add organic matter and suppress unwanted weeds. They also activate the soil biology if the ground has been bare by making food. I cover ground with them, interplant and even cut them for flowers! (more on this and where to buy them coming up next week or you can come to my session on Saturday)

   In July and August, sow winter hardy green manures to keep the soil active and photosynthesising right through to the spring.

Buckwheat interplanted with nasturiums and late autumn chrysanthemums

5. Deadheading

   One of my favourite jobs, tidying up and promoting flowering. I’m pinching off perennial cornflowers, calendula, corncockle, roses, all sorts. I’m not tidy, I throw the spent flowers into the beds but that’s more food for the soil, covering as I go.

6. Cutting Back

   If whole perennial plants have finished flowering, I cut them back and give a good feed, they might have another go in September. Try this on nepeta, ladies mantle, geraniums and anything that has been flattened by the rain and turning. Feed plants afterwards. Recently heard it called the Hampton Hack! (but this year it’s not on, but RHS Badminton is…so Badminton Boost is apparently this year’s phrase!) think Chelsea chop, to give plants a refresh and a chance to reflower.

7. Feeding

   I rarely remember to feed. I probably don’t manage once a month but ideally I would. And maybe more often for dahlias, sweet peas and tomatoes. But do what you can. Using the sprayer is easy and quick, but I find my homemade comfrey or any feeds block it up too easily so I hand feed with watering cans. A little goes a long way. Here are my feed recipes.

8. Lift and divide Iris

   I did this last year and it revives them no end.

9. Summer Nights

   I LIVE for the long summer evenings. Most of all enjoy it! I recommend a hammock &/or a kayak.

Harvesting

Shrubs, Trees & Climbers - Roses & clematis

Perennials - Mints and oregano are in flower now, eryngium, ecinops, cephalaria, penstemon, dianthus, canterbury bells, verbena bonariensis, salvias and first dahlias

Bulbs - Alliums and Lillies

Annuals - Loads, all of them! calendula, cornflowers, corncockle, nicotiana, snapdragons, larkspur, achillea, and many more.

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I write about, teach and design productive and sustainable gardens.

Much more help for your growing can be found by visiting the hundreds of articles in the library Floral Index here or why not call me to discuss a consultation - either online or I can come to you.

Have a great month outside!

With love,