Anyone planning on doing some gardening at the weekend or indeed over the next couple of weeks here are 10 jobs to keep you busy.
These jobs, according to the Royal Horticulture Society (RHS), are key for the month of July.
- Check clematis for signs of clematis wilt and if present cut off and remove from the garden.
- Place conservatory plants outside now that it is warm. Although precaution should be followed, don’t just place them outside and expect them to take off, take them in at night and ensure they have a enough water.
- Water tubs and new plants if dry, but be water-wise. Don’t water one day with loads and then leave for two or three days and expect them to be fine, little and often is key.
- Deadhead bedding plants and repeat-flowering perennials, to ensure continuous flowering, reducing their unappealing appearance and it should also help reduce the amount of diseases occurring.
- Ensure that ripe fruit and vegetables are picked continuously. This will prevent diseases building up such as rot and will also encourage more fruit and vegetable to grow and ripen.
- Watch out for diseases and pests on the fruit, vegetables and roses such as apple scab, blight and black-spot and treat on a regularly basis to bring it under control.
- Clear algae, blanket weeds and debris from ponds, and keep them topped up.
- Order catalogues for next year’s spring-flowering bulbs. Planning ahead is essential in the garden and knowing what plants are required is important.
- Give the lawn a quick-acting summer feed, especially if it was not given a spring feed. Regularly mowing the lawn will discourage annual weeds establishing.
- Give woodwork a lick of paint or preserver while the weather is dry. This will improve appearance and longevity of the structures.
