July in the Garden...

• 1 Deadhead now to keep summer plants and bedding at their best and to encourage continuous flowering, particularly oriental poppies, alchemilla, hardy geraniums, nepeta.
• 2 In July prune Wisteria for the second time in the year; if you leave any later you may jeopardise next years flowers.
• 3 Water and feed everything regularly, especially tomatoes, to avoid problems. Also tie them in to their canes and pinch out the side shoots if necessary.
• 4 Dahlias will be flowering profusely by the end of the month. Tall stems will need to be supported to keep the heavy blooms upright. Regularly dead-head and harvest flowers.
• 5 Cut back herbs for drying. Marjoram and Oregano can be harvested for drying now, before the flowers come. Lavender can be cut when it is just coming into flower.
• 6 Keep an eye on apples and plums to make sure there are not too many on each stem and thin out if necessary – just two or three is enough.
• 7 Prune early summer-flowering shrubs; as well as cutting back for shape, look for any damaged or dead shoots and cut them out.
• 8 Prune out raspberry canes to prevent congestion, tie the new canes on to support wires and ensure the area is weed-free and well watered in dry spells.