July is mainly a time when you can enjoy your garden, rather than doing a lot of physical work in it, as most things are sown and already planted and the whole emphasis is more on weeding and watering regularly especially as the weather is so hot. .  Now is the time to consider acquiring watering equipment like Weeping Watering hoses  and also good quality hoses that will withstand the high temperatures and make your life easier.  You will also need to keep your eye on garden pests like snails and slugs and take  action to protect your plants.  (Digging over your soil with our Copper Tool range will definitely help in the fight against snails and slugs).  Keep your eye open for the Crane Fly or Daddy Long Legs which means that it is time to treat for Leatherjackets

*Propagation Indoors

Feed your pot plants regularly

Take leaf and semi-ripe cuttings from shrubs

Take stem cuttings of azaleas and graft fruit trees

Pot up and on seedling pot plants as necessary

Layer and take cuttings of carnations and pinks

Take cuttings from hydrangeas

Disbud tuberous begonias

Start taking fuschia cuttings and any half hardy perennials

Prick out seedlings of plants sown earlier for winter flowering

Take cuttings of herbs such as lemon verbena, sage and thyme

Continue to maintain indoor vegetables especially tomatoes.

TIP: Seeds sown  in modular tray systems make spacing easier, save time in pricking out and produce strong sturdy plants with little or no disturbance when transplanting . 

Check plants regularly to see if watering is needed.  You will have to water actively growing plants several times a week and more so as the weather is getting hotter and evaporation is taking place
  

*Planting out Outdoors

The  greatest tasks you have this month are to weed regularly and to keep your plants well watered and dead head border plants regularly to ensure constant flowering.

Divide and replant border irises and other rhizomes

Plant colchicums to flower in the autumn

Sow biennials seeds e.g. Sweet William, Wallflower

Finish planting out summer bedding plants and fill in gaps in borders

Plant out more herbaceous perennials

Sow more vegetables for succession crops  e.g. spinach, parsley, beetroot, carrots, lettuces and turnips

Plant out late cauliflowers, winter cabbages and leeks

Sow more French Beans

Plant out bush varieties of Tomatoes (Red Alert and Tornado)

TIP: Save yourself some time and money and ensure thorough watering of your garden by investing in a weeping watering system.  Such a system uses up to 70% less water than conventional systems.

*In the Greenhouse

Check all the plants regularly for signs of pests and diseases which often increase as the temperature rises especially white fly  and greenfly at this time of year

Increase  ventilation on warm days

Increase watering of plants as the weather warms up.  Damp down regularly, splashing water on the floor and under the staging to increase humidity levels.  (This will help to control pests especially the Red Spider Mite). 

If you are going to be away for sometime then it is a good idea to invest in Capillary Matting which will keep your plants watered whilst away.  For pot plants the Water Slice is an ideal holiday waterer and can keep a plant going for up to three weeks!

Shade the Greenhouse or Conservatory to prevent major temperature fluctuation

The indications given above assume you will be using Rootrainers seed trays and or/plug plants produced in Rootrainers.  If you are using conventional seed trays, then the growth cycle is likely to be longer. 

Also remember if you are using Rootrainers seed trays you will not have to do any potting up of your cuttings and you will save on compost. Cuttings can also be overwintered in Sherwood Rootrainer trays so saving time and space and limiting disturbance to root systems

Try the Rooterpot for the easy way to take stem cuttings and watch your plants reproduce in one season while the parent plant looks after them.