Gardeners are being urged by gardening expert Monty Don to complete a vital job this month: feeding plants in pots and containers. Despite the temptation to relax in the summer heat, Don stresses that container-grown flowers, shrubs, trees and crops need regular supplementary feeding to thrive.
Why Container Plants Need Extra Care in July
In his blog, Monty explained: "Most plants grown in a container of any kind will exhaust the available nutrients from the compost they were originally planted as they grow and will need a regular supplementary feed for the rest of the summer." He recommends a weekly feed high in potash to promote root and flower formation, suggesting liquid seaweed or proprietary liquid tomato feed as effective options.
Don cautioned against overfeeding: "Too many nutrients are as damaging as too few as it causes rapid, lush growth - often at the expense of flowers or fruit - and which attracts extra fungal and predatory problems." He advises gardeners to follow instructions carefully and reduce strength if unsure.
Other July Gardening Tasks
Roses are in full bloom and should not be overlooked, according to Don. He also recommends removing lower foliage from outdoor tomatoes to improve air circulation and reduce blight risk. July is the ideal time to prune fruit trees, as summer pruning does not stimulate excessive regrowth like winter pruning.
Don explained: "Unless you are training a particular new shoot, remove all this year's growth back to a couple of pairs of leaves (usually about 2-4 inches) being careful not to remove any ripening fruits." This allows light and air to reach ripening fruit and prevents overcrowding.
Early-flowering perennials such as oriental poppies, delphiniums and hardy geraniums can be cut back in July to stimulate new growth and produce more blooms in autumn. Finally, raspberries are ripe for harvesting, with Don describing them as "a freshness and seasonal treat" best enjoyed warm from the evening sun with a little cream.
