Monty Don has shared his top gardening tip for July: staking plants to maintain structure and prevent collapse during the flush of midsummer growth. The gardening expert recommends using brushwood such as hazel pea sticks or metal supports to prop up tall, top-heavy plants like Ammi majus, sunflowers, cleome, Cosmos Sensation, tithonias, and Leonotis.
Why Staking Matters in July
July's warm weather and occasional storms can cause plants to overgrow and topple over, turning a garden into a 'disaster zone' overnight. Staking provides essential support, keeping stems upright and preventing snapping. It also lifts fruit away from damp soil and increases sun exposure, benefiting crops like tomatoes, peas, and cucumbers.
Don 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.' He emphasizes that the right placement should make the supports invisible, preserving 'all the charm of midsummer bounty.'
Materials and Techniques
Common staking materials include bamboo canes, biodegradable ties, and metal cages. The key is to avoid cutting into the stem, allowing room for growth. Don suggests using brushwood like hazel pea sticks for a natural look that blends into the garden.
Raspberry Care in July
Another top July job is focusing on raspberries, which are at their best this month. Don advises picking summer-fruiting varieties, which he prefers over strawberries. He writes: '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 looks forward to enjoying them with cream on summer evenings.
By following these tips, gardeners can keep their borders tidy and productive throughout the midsummer season.
