the fruit garden
Top fruits such as apples and pears routinely produce more fruit than the tree can bring to full maturity. They do, of course, bear much of this immature fruit in June in what is known as the ‘June drop’, but this is rarely enough so it’s a good idea to come by afterwards to get the job done, not in the latter because it prevents trees from overdoing it one year, and taking a year off the next. Thin out the fruits that are clumped together so that only one or two remain at any point, and imagine the ideal size of the final fruit. The idea is to make sure that any leftover fruit has enough space to achieve this.
Flowers
The challenge through July is to flower for as long as possible, especially with perennials and roses, bedding and annuals. To this end, it’s a good idea to spend some time each week sniffing out faded flowers. Once the blooms are over, the plant receives the signal that all pollination is complete, and it’s time to move on to the next stage – setting seed – and they lose all drive to keep blooming. By constantly thwarting their seed-setting mechanism, we keep them in bloom. Regular doses of liquid fertilizer also help keep the plants blooming all summer long.
lawns
You can keep mowing all month, but it’s a good idea to stop during drought, you should hit one. Lawns can look a little tired in July, so if you have the opportunity, set the blades slightly higher than in early summer so the grass can withstand the ravages of summer. In dry, warm weather, the grass may develop brown spots, but don’t panic. There is no need to take the sprinkler out as it will turn green as soon as it starts to rain again and they are never too far away.
green house
The greenhouse can overheat on hot days, which can lead to plant stress, wilting and leaf burn, and the need for water will increase. It would be wise to have some shade mesh now or if not to paint the outside glass with shade paint, which will deflect some of the rays. You can now leave the doors and any windows open day and night, and during warm periods you have to ‘humidify’ in the morning and afternoon – water the floor to cool the temperature.