Monty Don, Britain's most celebrated gardening expert, has shared a crucial July gardening task that could ensure beautiful and vibrant blooms in the autumn months. The BBC Gardeners' World presenter urges gardeners to cut back early flowering perennials such as oriental poppies, delphiniums, and hardy geraniums to the ground. This process encourages fresh regrowth and repeat flowering in a couple of months' time, according to Don's personal gardening blog.
Why July is the Perfect Time
Reflecting on the magic of July, Monty writes: "The days are long and there is none of the slight weariness in the garden that can shadow August. It is the month of school holidays, and the garden flows and swells with both floral and edible harvests." He notes that roses are still looking good at the beginning of the month, and clematis switch from early summer blooms to more abundant, smaller flowers of late-flowering types. Tender annuals like cosmos, zinnias, sunflowers, and tithonias hit their stride, while summer-flowering bulbs such as crocosmia, agapanthus, lilies, and dahlias enrich borders.
Step-by-Step Guidance
Monty advises: "Early flowering perennials such as oriental poppies, delphiniums and hardy geraniums such as G. phaeum, should all be cut back to the ground to encourage fresh regrowth and repeat flowering in a couple of months' time." He explains that this creates space for tender annuals and perennials in the border. The horticulturist adds: "Remove all cut material to the compost heap, weed around the base of the plants, water if necessary and do not plant too close to them so that they have light and space to regrow and flower again at the end of summer."
Hedge Cutting and Meadow Care
Flowering plants aren't the only thing demanding attention this month. Monty also offers essential advice on hedges: "By the end of the month birds have all fledged and left their nests, so hedge cutting can begin, bringing back a crispness to the garden that restores a sense of vitality and provides a framework for late-summer shagginess in the borders." According to Monty, most wild flower meadows can be safely cut back by the end of July. The most crucial step is to "remove all the grass, raking up every last piece to compost, so that it will not enrich the grass and thus limit next year's wild flower display."
