Gardening jobs this month: July

What to do in the garden in July from the gardening experts of Prima and Country Living

From Country Living gardening editor Stephanie Donaldson:

● Spread perennial weeds out to dry on paths - once they are shrivelled and thoroughly dry they can safely be added to the compost heap

● Prune side shoots back to four leaves on gooseberry and redcurrant bushes to help the formation of next year's buds

● Sow parsley seed now to enjoy a winter crop

● Trim holly and yew hedges

From Prima gardening expert Ann-Marie Powell:

● Deadhead any faded, dead blooms on herbaceous perennials.

● Lift and divide overgrown clumps of Iris.

● Start saving seed from annuals and perennials that have finished flowering, storing them in labelled envelopes.

● Take cuttings from pelargoniums (annual geraniums) and from
shrubs such as hydrangea.

● Prune early-flowering shrubs (forsythia, lilac, philadelphus, deutzia, exochorda and weigela) to encourage new flowering growth for next year.

● Water hanging baskets and patio pots every day.

● Earth up potatoes as they grow.

● Sow beetroot, endive, kohlrabi, lettuces, radish, salad, turnip, winter spinach, dwarf French peas and beans, carrots and cabbages.

● Keep tomatoes, aubergines and peppers well fed and watered. 

● Pick ripe and swollen plums from your trees to keep a good succession of fruit.

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