July Gardening Jobs

At the height of summer, the days are long and warm and the garden freely gives up its treasures with an abundance of flowers, fruit and vegetables. Keeping on top of watering is likely to be your most time-consuming task this month, but it's hardly a chore when you're surrounded by the serenity of a garden in full bloom.

July is often the hottest and driest month of the year. It's a wonderful time to be in the garden, particularly in the early morning, before the heat of the day sets in, and in the evening, when you can relax with a cool drink and enjoy your garden at its best. Deadheading, harvesting and watering are the main jobs to keep on top of this month, along with keeping an eye out for pests.

 

Flowers, shrubs & trees

There's not much heavy work to do this month. Instead, focus your efforts on deadheading or picking flowers and taking cuttings if you want to propagate new plants. These are some of my favourite garden tasks, as they feel productive without being too onerous on a hot day.

What to plant in July

• You can sow fast-growing nasturtiums at the start of the month for summer colour or buy nasturtium plants for instant impact. Pick the leaves and flowers as a peppery addition to your salads.

• Sow biennials like foxgloves, sweet William, forget-me-nots, wallflowers and honesty. The earlier in July you can sow them the better, as this gives the plants a chance to grow and become established before winter.

• You can plant autumn-flowering bulbs now or pre-order varieties like Crocus sativus (saffron crocus) to plant in late August or September.

Propagating and dividing

• Take semi-ripe cuttings from shrubs such as lavender, rosemary, hebe, hydrangea, penstemon and choisya.

• Take softwood cuttings from your pelargoniums to increase your stock before autumn.

• Bearded irises need dividing every 3–5 years. Lift the plants about six weeks after flowering, separate off the newer rhizomes and discard the older, woody crown. Replant the new plants immediately and cut back the foliage so they don't get blown over.

Pruning and cutting back

• Deadhead repeat-flowering roses and cut sweet pea, dahlia, zinnia and cosmos blooms regularly to get a continuous display of flowers.

• Pick or deadhead alstroemeria flowers by pulling the flower stalks out from the base. This stimulates new buds and flowers.

• Cut back flowering perennials such as delphiniums, lupins, brunneras, oriental poppies and early-flowering geraniums to near the base of the plant once the flowers fade and the plants start to look leggy. The soil needs to be moist to help new shoots grow, so wait until we get some rain before getting the shears out!  

• Magnolia trees don't need routine pruning, but if you need to remove any damaged or thin branches, now is the time to do it, as the wounds will heal more quickly. Walnut, maple and birch trees are also best pruned in summer rather than winter. 

• Remove any suckers you spot sprouting from roses or trees by tearing them off at the base of the plant (below the graft union).

• Harvest lavender flowers and either use them fresh or hang bunches of stems to dry.

General maintenance

• Water plants deeply during warm, dry spells, focusing on young plants that are still establishing root systems and potted plants. Hanging baskets and smaller pots may need watering daily.

• Feed plants in containers every week.

• Give your exotic house plants a holiday and bring them outside to enjoy the British summer (unless we get one of those British summers, in which case they may prefer to stay cosy indoors).

• If you haven't already put in plant supports, stake tall perennials before they flop over.

• Add a layer of mulch to beds and pots after rain (or a good watering) to help the soil retain moisture and keep weeds at bay.

• If you see any sign of vine weevil, take action immediately. You can use nematodes as a biological control or report your plant in new compost, removing as many of the larvae from around the roots as you can.

Planning ahead

• Pre-order spring-flowering bulbs to get the best choice of varieties. 

• Collect seeds from early-flowering plants, such as aquilegia, foxgloves, honesty and alliums.

• Your garden is likely at its peak this month, so make a note of any gaps in your borders or changes you want to make for next year.

 

Fruit and vegetables

July is often the busiest and most productive month in your kitchen garden or allotment. Keeping plants watered and fed is crucial, and regular harvesting of peas, beans and courgettes will keep your plants producing. Make sure your freezer is empty, ready to store any fruit and vegetables you can't eat.

What veg to plant in July

• Sow carrots, beetroot, salad crops and fast-growing peas and beans for a late summer and autumn harvest.

• Sow leafy greens like chard and kale to last through the autumn and into winter.

• You can also sow endive, chicory, fennel and kohl rabi this month.

• Plant out Brussels sprouts and winter cabbages and cauliflowers.

• If you haven't transplanted your leeks into their final growing position, do it this month.

Harvesting

• Cherries are ready to be picked this month. They're popular with birds, so you may want to net your tree before the fruit ripens and becomes attractive.

• There are plenty of berries to harvest this month, including strawberries, summer raspberries, gooseberries, blackcurrants, redcurrants and whitecurrants.

• Peaches, nectarines and apricots may be ready to pick this month.

• French and runner beans will be ready to harvest this month. Pick them regularly to enjoy young, tender beans.

• You may still be harvesting peas and broad beans. Once your plants have finished, cut them down but leave the roots in the soil.

• Courgettes can grow fast, and you may return from a week's holiday to find a tiny courgette has turned into a marrow. Check plants regularly and harvest before the courgettes get too big for the best flavour.

• Onions, shallots and garlic should be ready to harvest this month.

• Check second early potatoes to see if they're ready for lifting.

• If you don't have a greenhouse, July is likely your first month to harvest tomatoes and cucumbers.

• Continue harvesting carrots, beetroot, broccoli and salad crops as you need them. 

• Don't forget edible flowers! Courgette, calendula, French marigold, nasturtium and viola flowers all add colour and sometimes flavour to summer salads and other dishes.

Fruit bushes and trees

• Cherry and plum trees need to be pruned in summer to avoid the wounds becoming infected with silver leaf disease. Remove any damaged or diseased wood and thin out branches if necessary.

• Prune redcurrants, whitecurrants and gooseberries grown as cordons or fans to restrict growth. Shorten side shoots to five leaves.

General maintenance 

• Watering can be a challenge on long, hot days, particularly if water restrictions come in. It's better to give plants a deep soak every few days rather than a daily sprinkle. Water early in the morning or at the end of the day and prioritise fruiting crops (berries, tomatoes, cucumbers etc.), peas and beans, leafy veg that bolt easily and young fruit trees.

• If you do get some heavy rain, add a layer of mulch on beds afterwards to lock in the moisture.

• Continue pinching out side shoots on cordon tomatoes. Pinch out the growing tips once four or five trusses of fruit have formed and feed every week or two with a high-potassium liquid fertiliser.

• You can grow hungry plants, such as courgettes, squashes, cucumbers and beans in containers, but they quickly use up the nutrients in the compost. Feed them weekly with a liquid tomato feed to get a good crop.

• Pinch off the growing tips of climbing beans when they reach the top of their supports, or else you'll end up with a tangled mess of vines.

• Peg down strawberry runners in pots or in the bed if you need to fill gaps with new plants.

• Keep brassicas and peas netted to protect your crops from birds.

Planning ahead

• As you start to dig up plants that have finished producing, such as first early potatoes and broad beans, you can prepare the beds for autumn and winter crops.

• Order cold stored potatoes to plant next month if you want to grow your own potatoes for Christmas.

 

Lawns and hedges

July lawns and hedges benefit from regular care, especially during periods of warm weather. Adjusting your maintenance routine to suit the conditions will help keep them healthy without causing unnecessary stress.

• Avoid mowing lawns during hot, dry periods.

• Grass copes well with drought and will recover quickly once it rains, without needing supplementary water. That said, if you started a new lawn from seed or turf in spring, you will need to water it every few days unless it rains.

• Avoid leaving paddling pools and splash mats in one place for longer than a couple of days, as this can damage the grass and compact the soil underneath. When emptying a paddling pool, use a bucket or watering can to transfer the water rather than tipping it over the lawn.

• Keep newly planted hedges well watered, as long, dry periods can stress young plants. You can use the water from your paddling pool!

 

Other garden jobs for July

Long spells of dry weather may not help your plants, but they are useful for tackling painting jobs in the garden. Don't forget to keep ponds and other water features topped up to help local wildlife.

• Set up a watering system for your plants if you're going on holiday.

• Keep filling your compost bins, making sure you add enough brown materials to balance kitchen waste and garden clippings. Chopping the waste into smaller pieces helps speed up decomposition.

• Clean bird baths regularly and refill when needed.

• During dry spells, you may need to top up ponds. Use rainwater if possible, but if your water butts are empty, tap water will do.

• Keep greenhouses well ventilated and shaded.

• Take advantage of the good weather and give your fences, sheds and garden furniture a lick of paint.

• Check irrigation systems and soaker hoses for leaks.

 

FAQ

What flowers can I plant in July in the UK?

If you have gaps in your garden, you can buy summer bedding plants to add colour to beds and patio containers. Marigolds, dahlias, begonias, petunias and pelargoniums flower all through the summer and early autumn. 

What vegetables should I plant in July?

You can sow carrots, beetroot, French beans and peas this month for late summer and autumn harvests, along with continuous sowings of salad crops like lettuce, rocket, radishes, spinach, chard and spring onions.

Should I water my garden every day in July?

Even if there's no rain, you don't need to water your entire garden every day. Established plants generally benefit from a thorough soak once or twice a week rather than light daily watering, and drought tolerant species may not need watering at all. Plants in containers and hanging baskets will likely need daily water during hot weather.

Why should I deadhead flowers?

Removing spent flowers helps plants focus their energy on producing new flower buds rather than seeds. Some plants only need deadheading once, whereas others (typically repeat-flowering plants like roses, dahlias and zinnias) benefit from having individual blooms snipped off as they fade. You may want to leave seedheads on certain plants to harvest for seed, to add winter interest to your borders or as a food source for birds.