An expert has revealed the gardening jobs you should do to maintain your outdoor space this month
Gardeners are being encouraged to carry out these five tasks this month(Image: Getty Images)
July is set to bring some more warmth and sunshine, with ‘very warm’ temperatures expected to return to the UK soon following the heatwave in June, the Met Office says.
It is therefore a good time to get out and tend to your garden to keep it looking neat and vibrant during the summer months.
According to Which? Gardening experts, there are plenty of things to be done such as cutting back early-flowering perennial to harvesting veg at its peak and feeding the lawn.
Expert Ceri Thomas has shared five key gardening jobs that you should do in July to maintain your outdoor space throughout summer.
Sign up to our Manchester property newsletter here
These five jobs are essential for maintaining your garden throughout summer(Image: Getty Images)
Five key gardening maintenance jobs for July:
Feed your lawn
For many of us the lawn is the centrepiece to the garden that sets off everything else.
“As long as there is no drought, it’s worth feeding the lawn regularly,” Ceri says.
“During dry weather, raise the blades on your lawn mower to allow the grass to grow a little bit longer. This will keep it greener and help it retain moisture.
“Don’t panic if your grass does turn brown as it will soon green up again when the rain returns.”
Keep your pond in top condition
Ponds and other water features also need some care in July and August to keep them healthy and looking good.
“Look out for any yellowing leaves. If they are left on water lilies and other water plants, remove them promptly. Allowing them to fall off and rot in the water will decrease water quality,” says Ceri.
“Remove blanket weed to let oxygen into your pond. Use a net or rake and remember to give aquatic life a chance to get back to the water by piling the weed next to the pond for a day.
“Water can evaporate rapidly from water features and ponds in the height of summer, so top them up if the water level drops significantly. Rainwater from a water butt is best – chemicals in tap water can affect the nutrient balance in the pond.
“If your area is under a hosepipe ban, you can still use it to top up your pond if you have fish. Remember to clean any filters and pumps.”
Water any plants you’ve recently planted(Image: Getty Images)Water anything recently planted
“Anything you’ve planted in the past few months will need regular watering while it puts out roots into the surrounding soil and establishes itself,” Ceri recommends.
“Make sure that you give these plants a thorough soaking rather than a gentle sprinkle.”
Shade the greenhouse
The expert advises gardeners to shade their greenhouse.
“If your greenhouse is in a sunny spot, it can quickly get too hot on sunny days. Put shading material or paint with shading paint to reduce the temperature inside,” says Ceri.
You should make your own compost in July(Image: Getty Images)Make compost
Gardeners are also being urged to make compost.
“Try to maintain a green/brown balance in the compost heap. Green materials are soft, high in nitrogen and not necessarily green in colour, for example coffee grounds, veg peelings and leafy prunings,” Ceri says.
“Brown materials are often drier, more fibrous and with a higher carbon content, for example, twigs, cardboard and wood (but not coal) ash.
“In the summer, most ingredients are green, which results in compost heaps with a lack of structure and air being squeezed out, so it’s important to add an equal proportion of brown ingredients.”
Join the Manchester Evening News WhatsApp group HERE