The perennial winter – and spring – flowering Icelandic poppy makes a brilliant show in the garden in July with its single graceful flower borne on the end of a long stem. They prefer full sun, rich soil with great drainage and will provide you with a continuous show until spring arrives and the rest of the garden awakens.
Camellias, Azaeleas and Rhododendrons are all in their prime at this time of year, putting on a beautiful show of flowers in a range of colours. Giving them a boost by adding mulch or compost at the base of the plant will encourage them to prolong their glamorous show. They prefer slightly acidic soil which can be achieved easily by mulching with pine needles. In areas with no winter rainfall keep them lightly watered but don’t forget that Camellias, Azaeleas and Rhododendrons don’t like too much attention.
July is the time to prune roses and deciduous fruit trees such as peach, plum and apple trees in order to increase fruit production. Not all fruit trees require the same pruning, so it is a good idea to seek out advice on your variety – your local garden centre will be able to give you guidance on the best way to prune your plants.
Gardens are not always looking their best in July, so it is a good idea to spend a few hours tidying up. Rake up fallen leaves but take care not to damage young bulb shoots when cleaning up. Once you have smartened up your garden, why not reward yourself and your garden with some winter bedding plants to liven up bare spots. Pansies, Primulas, Diascias, Lobelias, Violas and Alyssum are readily available in seedling trays and are all in flower in July. They should continue to flower until early summer making them the perfect addition to your garden.
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