JULY 2024

GARDENING NOTES FOR JULY

Flowers;

 Divide bearded Irises at this time of year by selecting young portions of the

rhizomes about 4 to 6 inches long, trim the fan of leaves to about 6 inches and shorten

the roots by about a half in length and then plant in their new positions but leave the

rhizome on the surface of the soil. Don’t forget to water in.

Prolong the flowering of Sweet Peas, Roses, Dahlias, Cosmos and other flowers by

regular dead heading.

Tie in the rapidly growing new growth on rambler and climbing Roses.

Remember to regularly water all plants growing in containers and feed weekly as

well.

Vegetables and Fruit

 There is still time to make the final sowings of French Beans,

Lettuce, Radish, etc directly into the open ground.

Keep Tomatoes evenly watered to prevent splitting of the fruit and Blossom end rot.

Feed with a high potash feed weekly from now on.

Tie in the new growth of fruit, such as Raspberries, Blackberries and Loganberries,

because it is on these shoots that you will get next year’s crop.

Pests and Diseases. 

Black blotches or spots on Apple and Pear trees is a sure sign of

Scab infection, spray now especially on smaller trees to help prevent this.

Brassicas can be decimated at this time of year by the caterpillars of the Cabbage

White butterfly. Pick off the caterpillars or use a suitable spray such as Provado

Ultimate Fruit and Vegetable Bug Killer.

At this time of year Powdery Mildew is a problem especially if the weather is dry.

Spray with a suitable fungicide before the problem gets too bad.

Potato Blight will be around now especially if the weather is humid. If found, cut off

the potato growth as near to ground level as possible to prevent the blight going into

the soil to affect the tubers. Discard the tops into your green waste bin but do not

make any attempt to compost them as this will spread it again next year.

Distorted new shoots on many garden plants is the result of Capsid Bug damage.

Fuchsias, Dahlia, Hydrangea are amongst those plants most commonly affected.

Continue to control Lily Beetle as it is seen by pickling off the red beetles or spraying

with Ultimate Bug Killer. If left such severe damage will result to your Lilies and the

bulbs will be weakened so badly they may well not appear again next year.