The garden in July. What to do this month.

The Kirman Design garden at Bents Garden and Home is now planted up and is now open to the public. The garden will feature various artwork pieces by contemporary artists across the northwest. 

Purple curved wall with 'Memory Bench' by Audrey Hayes

Planting in the garden

Ligulariua and Eremurus

Garden planted with varying styles of planting and paving

You are quite welcome to drop in at any time. The office is manned on Wednesday and Sunday but other times also by appointment.  Please feel free to drop in for coffee at any time.

To find instructions of how to get to Bents Garden and Home along with a location map, click here.

In your own garden this month...


Lawn

If you have just had a new lawn laid, make sure you water it copiously in dry weather. Even with established lawns, make sure these are watered too, especially if you notice the growth rate of the grass decreasing and the soil drying out. Mow once a week. The lawn maybe areated at this time of year and fungicide maybe applied, particularly if the weather is hot and humid.

Annuals

Continue to water annuals. Stake any plants which are taller specimens. Sow wall flowers and sweet williams in situ. Keep weeding to remove unwelcome plants: 'Little and often'.

Bulbs

Lift and store tulip and narcissus bulbs. Autumn flowering bulbs like Amaryllis belladonna and Colchicums.

Pools and water plants

If the weather is warm, continue to fill up your water feature or pond as water will evaporate from it quickly. Trim larger water lily leaves which are hiding the flowers beneath. Thin the heavy growth of oxygenating plants. Remove weeds from the bog garden.


Trees and Shrubs

Keep your eyes open for aphids and other pests which breed on trees and shrubs. This is a good month to take half-raipe cuttings. Prune deciduous shrubs like Choisya ternata, Jasmine and Philadelphus after flowering.

Fruit

Fruit trees being grown in a restricted form will need summer pruning. Watch for Red Spider Mites and Codling moths on apples and pears.

Vegetables

Continue to plant leeks, late Brussels sprouts, winter cabbages and sprouting and spring broccoli. If you are growing vegetables, then there will be lots to harvest: spinach, peas, beets, carrots, salads, potatoes and globe artichokes; shallots and possibly garlic.

Herbaceous

Dead head peaonies and other early flowering herbaceous plants.
Good time to lift and divide dwarf and intermediate bearded irises if they have not been moved for three years. 


Hedges

This is the best month to trim quick thorn hedges. Weed the hedge bottoms and keep an eye open for aphids and other pests breeding in the hedge. Beech are particularly susceptable to whitefly.

Pests and Diseases

Scarlet Lily Beetle will have finished munching  your Fritillaries by now and will be starting on your Lillies if not kept in check. Greenfly will be a problem on flower buds and young shoots and if you have a greenhouse keep your eyes peeled for Red Spider Mite and Whitefly. Keep your eyes open for rust.

General

• If you have planters or hanging baskets, keep and eye on how moist they are, and keep watering them daily when the weather is dry.
• It's a good chance to collect seed from biennials such as foxgloves. Sow them whilst fresh to make the most of them.
• Keep bird feeders filled up and providing the birds with ample water.

The garden advice and plant information contained on this email has been created as accurately as possible, but localised weather conditions and yearly variations in climate mean that information should be used as a general guide only and acted upon accordingly.

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For Kirman Design customers, to follow is a list specific information relating to your own plants and garden. If no information appears, there is nothing specific to do in your garden this month.