July Gardening Tips

With another possible heatwave on the way, it’s safe to say that summer is in full swing!

July can be a busy month for gardening. Longer days with warm weather mean plants need regular care to keep flowering, fruiting and producing healthy crops. With dry spells becoming more common, it’s also important to water, feed and maintain your garden in a way that helps plants cope with summer stress.
Here are our top tips for keeping your garden healthy throughout July.

How to care for your garden in July

In July, most plants are in active growth, which means they need regular watering and feeding:

Watering during dry weather

Even a short dry spell can stress plants quickly. To help prevent much-needed moisture evaporating out of the soil, water your containers, hanging baskets, raised beds and any newly planted shrubs deeply and regularly - preferably in the morning or evening. A thorough soak at the roots is much more effective than a light sprinkle, as it encourages water to reach deeper into the soil where plants need it most. Another way to retain moisture is by using mulch. Leave lawn clippings on the turf during heatwaves to act as a natural mulch and help keep lawns and borders hydrated.
Don’t forget to water your houseplants. Similar to all outdoor plants, regularly feeding and watering houseplants throughout the summer months will make the world of difference to their health. As well as watering regularly, place houseplants out of direct sunlight to prevent leaf scorch. Take a look at our ‘Caring for houseplants’ blog for more information.

Feeding flowering plants and crops

Summer is peak growth period for plants, but you can give them a helping hand by feeding and fertilising.
Your plants will be working their hardest during July, blooming and producing fruit, and soil tends to run low in nutrients in warm weather. Plant feed helps give a boost to your garden, resulting in stronger plants, longer lasting displays and better harvests. 

Feeding your container plants and fruiting crops ensures that they thrive throughout the summer and have all the nutrients they need to stay healthy. Give your plants a boost with Q4 All Purpose Plant Food, which is a great all-rounder, or try Vitax Tub & Hanging Basket Feed for stunning container displays and hanging baskets. For acid-loving plants such as azaleas, camellias and rhododendrons, Vitax Seaweed Plus Iron can help support healthy growth and rich green foliage.

Feeling the heat this year? We’ve also put together our top tips for gardening in a heatwave - take a look for advice on caring for your garden when it starts getting warmer.

What should I plant in July?

The sweet scent of summer blooms

Summer flowers will be in full bloom this month, as roses, sweet peas, lilies and dahlias bring pops of colour to the garden. Deadheading can help keep your plants look their best, and encourage fresh growth and continued flowering throughout summer.

For planting, July is the time to sow biennials such as wallflowers, evening primrose, forget-me-nots and Canterbury bells, as well as fast-blooming annuals like zinnias, nasturtiums and cosmos to make sure you have fresh flowers as summer progresses. Dahlias will start to blossom in late summer. Dahlias are hungry plants, and regular feeding is essential once buds begin to form. If you’re growing dahlias, Vitax Liquid Dahlia Feed is a great choice to encourage flowering.

Growing roses this year? They can now be pruned to help keep them healthy and tidy. Remove spent flowers, cut back any weak stems and clear away fallen leaves from the base of the plant. This helps improve airflow, which can reduce the risk of common rose problems such as black spot. If you do spot black spot on rose leaves, remove the affected parts promptly and avoid overhead watering as damp leaves can encourage the disease to spread. To find out more about caring for roses this year, check out our getting the most out of roses blog.

Summer vegetables

Tomato plants and bean plants can be pruned throughout July to help encourage the crop to ripen. You can help your tomatoes thrive by feeding them weekly with Vitax Organic Tomato Food. Gooseberries and currants can be pruned too, if needed.

Autumn and winter salads, like winter lettuce and rocket, can be planted in July along with winter cabbage, kale and cauliflower. Plant out young Brussels sprouts if you’ve not already done so.

Managing garden pests

For all your crops, keep an eye out for problem pests and potential plant diseases, for example aphids or potato blight. Caught early these can be easily managed. Regularly check broad and runner beans for aphids such as black fly.

The quickest way to combat aphids is by hand or by spraying them off with water - once removed, apply Vitax Organic Plant Guard for continual protection.
It’s also worth checking box plants regularly for signs of box tree moth in July. Look out for webbing, chewed leaves and caterpillars hidden inside the plant. Vitax Box Tree Moth Traps can help monitor moth activity, making it easier to spot the problem early and take action before your plants suffer serious damage.

Want to know more about keeping your garden in top condition throughout the year? Read our month-by-month expert tips and guidance on our Blogs & News page.