Monty Don has issued a key gardening tip for July: staking tall plants to prevent them from collapsing under the weight of rapid summer growth. The expert horticulturist advises using brushwood such as hazel pea sticks or metal supports to prop up plants, keeping borders tidy without sacrificing the natural charm of midsummer bounty.
Why Staking Is Essential in July
July's warm temperatures and occasional downpours trigger a surge in plant growth, causing tall plants like Ammi majus, sunflowers, cleome, Cosmos Sensation, tithonias, and Leonotis to become top-heavy and prone to collapse. Without intervention, a garden can quickly turn into a "disaster zone," according to Don. Staking provides the necessary support to keep plants upright and maintain a structured appearance.
How to Stake Effectively
Don recommends placing supports around borders before plants become too unruly. He explains on his blog: "As these are planted individually it is hard to support them in the gently bolstering fashion that suits a large herbaceous perennial, but they can be staked to half their height and tied with soft twine so that they can still move gently but not collapse completely." The goal is to make the supports nearly invisible, preserving the garden's natural look.
Materials and Techniques
Common staking materials include bamboo canes, biodegradable fabric ties, and metal cages. It is crucial to avoid cutting into the plant's stem and to leave enough room for growth. Staking is also vital for top-heavy vegetables like tomatoes, peas, and cucumbers, preventing stem breakage and keeping fruit off damp soil while increasing sunlight exposure.
Raspberry Care in July
Don also highlights that July is the ideal time to harvest summer-fruiting raspberries, which he claims surpass even the finest strawberries. He notes: "Summer-fruiting raspberries carry their fruit on the canes that grew the previous summer - so all the fresh growth made in the current year will crop next July, whereas autumn-fruiting types such as 'Autumn Bliss' produce their fruit on the new season's growth." He eagerly anticipates picking them and enjoying a bowl with cream on summer evenings.
