Hints and tips for July
Remove male flowers on greenhouse cucumbers
Get to know the difference between male cucumber flowers, which have a simple stalk behind the petals, and females with tiny baby cucumber fruits forming. If you leave male flowers in place they'll pollinate the females – leading to bitter fruits. So once a week, go round your plants removing the male flowers as they appear. This doesn't apply to outdoor 'ridge' cucumbers, which need flowers to pollinate to set fruit.
Flowers:
Plant tender salvias, pelargoniums and dahlias out in the open garden
Remove diseased leaves from roses and bin or burn them
Tie in climbers to supports using soft jute twine
Remove reverted (plain green) shoots from variegated shrubs
Carefully remove faded flowers and developing seed pods from rhododendrons
Fruit & veg:
Keep fruit and vegetables watered in dry spells, especially leafy greens
Thin out carrot seedlings, leaving 5cm between plants
Earth up the soil around potatoes for a better crop
Sow annual herbs like chervil, coriander, rocket and parsley in small batches
Feed fruit, vegetables and ornamentals in grow bags and pots
Keep ripening strawberries free of soil splashes by tucking straw under the fruit
Greenhouse:
Shade plants from strong sunshine with shade paint or netting
Move cymbidium orchids outdoors in dappled shade
Remove old leaves from succulents such as aeoniums and Aloe vera
Regularly remove side shoots on cordon tomatoes
Provide aubergines and green peppers with supports before they get top-heavy
Around the garden:
Give tired lawns a liquid feed to green them up for summer
Water newly-planted perennials during dry periods
Edge lawns neatly using edging shears or strimmer
Regularly hoe annual weed seedlings when conditions are warm and dry
Remove blanket weed from ponds by wrapping it round a cane
Watch this space for a future update