What to sow and plant in July

Jobs for established plants in July

• Let the Leaves Die Back
  Allium (Purple Sensation)

  Leave the foliage for at least six weeks after flowering, until it yellows — don't knot or cut it. Then tidy it away.

• Summer Pruning
  Almond (Robijn)

  Prune in summer, never in winter (silver leaf): remove dead, crossing and crowded branches.

• Summer Watering (Dry Spells)
  Apple (Bramley's Seedling)

  Ensure the tree receives adequate water during prolonged dry periods, especially when fruit is developing.

• Summer Pest & Disease Check
  Apple (Bramley's Seedling)

  Continue to monitor for pests and diseases throughout the growing season.

• Thin the Fruit
  Apple (Cox's Orange Pippin)

  After the natural June drop, thin to one or two apples per cluster, 10–15 cm apart, for bigger fruit.

• Thin the Fruit
  Apple (Discovery)

  After the June drop, thin to one or two apples per cluster, 10–15 cm apart, for bigger fruit.

• Pest & Disease Check (Summer)
  Apple (Golden Delicious)

  Continue regular inspections for pests and diseases as fruit develops.

• Thin the Fruit
  Apple (James Grieve)

  After the June drop, thin to one or two apples per cluster, 10–15 cm apart, for bigger fruit.

• Keep Moist
  Astilbe

  Water deeply in dry weather — astilbes scorch and brown when dry.

• Trim After Flowering
  Astrantia (Masterwort)

  Cut back the first flush of flowers and leaves to encourage a second flush.

• Clip to Shape
  Bay Tree

  Trim with secateurs (not shears) to keep a neat shape; dry the clippings for cooking.

• Trim
  Berberis (thunbergii Atropurpurea)

  Trim hedges after flowering; wear thick gloves.

• Cut Back Yellow Leaves
  Bleeding Heart

  Once the leaves yellow in summer, cut them down to the ground.

• Check for Scale Insects
  Calamondin Orange

  Look under leaves for brown scale and sticky honeydew; wipe off with soapy water.

• Let the Leaves Die Back
  Camassia

  Leave the foliage for at least six weeks after flowering, until it yellows — don't knot or cut it. Then tidy it away.

• Trim After Flowering
  Catmint (Walker's Low)

  Shear the whole plant back by half after the first flush for a second round of flowers.

• Cut Back
  Catnip

  After the first flowers, cut stems back by half for fresh leaves and a second flush.

• Deadhead
  Coreopsis (Early Sunrise)

  Snip off faded flowers to keep it blooming; it is short-lived, so leave a few seed heads late in the season.

• Summer Watering Check (July)
  Crab Apple (Red Sentinel)

  Continue to monitor soil moisture and water deeply during prolonged dry spells.

• Summer Pest/Disease Check
  Crab Apple (Red Sentinel)

  Continue to monitor for pests and diseases, particularly during warm, humid weather.

• Keep Wet in Summer
  Cranberry (Pilgrim)

  Never let the compost dry out; water with rainwater.

• Summer Pruning
  Damson (Merryweather)

  Prune damsons in summer, never in winter: cuts made while dormant let in silver leaf disease. Remove dead, diseased or crossing branches and keep an open centre.

• Summer Watering
  Damson (Merryweather)

  Water deeply during dry periods, especially from fruit set until harvest. Young trees need more frequent watering to establish.

• Cut Back for a Second Flush
  Delphinium (Pacific Giant)

  Cut flowered spikes to the ground and feed; smaller spikes often follow in late summer.

• Cut Out Flowered Stems
  Euphorbia (characias wulfenii)

  Wearing gloves and glasses, cut each flowered stem right to the base; new stems will flower next year.

• Monitor Summer Watering
  Fig (Brown Turkey)

  Water deeply and regularly during dry spells, especially when fruit is developing.

• Summer Pest/Disease Check
  Fig (Brown Turkey)

  Continue to monitor for pests and diseases during the growing season.

• Summer Trim
  Firethorn (Pyracantha)

  Shorten new shoots just beyond the developing berry clusters so the fruit shows. Wear thick gloves.

• Summer Pruning (Only If Needed)
  Flowering Cherry (Amanogawa)

  Prunus are pruned in summer, never in winter (silver leaf). Just remove dead or crossing branches.

• Deadhead
  Geranium (Zonal Pelargonium)

  Snap off whole spent flower stalks at the base.

• Deadhead
  Geum (Totally Tangerine)

  Cut faded flower stems back to the base to keep new ones coming.

• Summer Prune
  Gooseberry (Invicta)

  Shorten this year's side shoots to five leaves.

• Thin the Bunches
  Grape Vine (Phoenix)

  Remove some bunches so there is one per 30 cm of rod, and snip out small grapes inside each bunch.

• Summer Pruning (Plums)
  Greengage (Cambridge Gage)

  Prune plum trees in summer to maintain shape, improve light penetration, and reduce risk of Silver Leaf disease.

• Watering in Dry Spells
  Greengage (Cambridge Gage)

  Ensure adequate watering during prolonged dry periods, especially when fruit is developing.

• Midsummer Trim (Optional)
  Hardy Geranium (Rozanne)

  If it sprawls, cut it back by half in midsummer; it regrows and flowers again in weeks.

• Light Prune
  Honeyberry (Haskap)

  After fruiting, remove a few of the oldest, weakest stems.

• Water in Dry Spells
  Hydrangea (Mophead)

  Hydrangeas wilt quickly in heat — water deeply at the base.

• Water in Hot Weather
  Japanese Maple

  Leaf edges crisp if roots dry out. Water deeply in heat and dry spells.

• Summer Prune
  Kiwi (Issai)

  Pinch out the tips of fruiting shoots at 5–6 leaves beyond the last flowers.

• Deadhead
  Knautia (macedonica)

  Cut faded stems to keep it flowering.

• Check for Scale Insects
  Kumquat (Nagami)

  Look under leaves for brown scale and sticky honeydew; wipe off with soapy water.

• Trim After Flowering
  Lavender (French, Lavandula stoechas)

  Shear off the faded flower heads and a little leafy growth for a second flush. Never cut into bare wood.

• Check for Scale Insects
  Lemon (Meyer)

  Look under leaves for brown scale and sticky honeydew. Wipe off with soapy water.

• Check for Scale Insects
  Limequat

  Look under leaves for brown scale and sticky honeydew; wipe off with soapy water.

• Cut Back After Flowering
  Mint (Spearmint)

  Cut stems to 5 cm after flowering for a fresh crop of tender leaves.

• Prune
  Mock Orange (Philadelphus)

  After flowering, cut flowered stems back to young shoots and remove a quarter of the oldest stems at the base.

• Prune
  Ninebark (Physocarpus)

  After flowering, cut a few of the oldest stems to the base to keep it young and colourful.

• Water During Dry Spells
  Olive

  Ensure consistent moisture, especially for potted trees or during prolonged dry periods. Deep watering is key.

• Check for Scale Insects
  Orange (Sweet, Pot-Grown)

  Look under leaves for brown scale and sticky honeydew; wipe off with soapy water.

• Summer Pest & Disease Check
  Peach (Peregrine)

  Continue monitoring for pests (e.g., fruit fly, earwigs) and diseases.

• Summer Pruning (Optional)
  Pear (Concorde)

  Lightly prune in summer to remove water sprouts, vigorous upright growth, or to maintain shape. Avoid heavy pruning which can stimulate new growth susceptible to winter damage.

• Summer Pruning (Optional)
  Pear (Conference)

  Light pruning in mid-summer to remove vigorous upright shoots (watershoots) and improve light penetration for fruit ripening.

• Summer Pruning & Harvest
  Peppermint

  Regularly pick leaves for use. Cut back straggly or woody stems after flowering to promote fresh shoots.

• Trim After Flowering
  Perennial Wallflower (Bowles's Mauve)

  Trim lightly after the main flush to keep it compact. It lives 3–5 years; take cuttings to replace it.

• Trim After First Flush
  Pinks (Doris)

  Shear off faded flowers to encourage more.

• Summer Pruning (Optional)
  Plum (Victoria)

  Lightly prune in summer to restrict growth, remove unwanted shoots, or improve light penetration to ripening fruit. Avoid heavy pruning.

• Monitor & Water in Dry Spells
  Quince (Meech's Prolific)

  Ensure the tree receives adequate water, especially during prolonged dry periods in summer and when fruits are developing.

• Deadhead and Feed
  Ranunculus (Persian Buttercup)

  Snap off faded flower heads (not the leaves) and give a high-potash feed to build up the bulb for next year.

• Summer Prune
  Redcurrant (Jonkheer van Tets)

  Shorten this year's side shoots to five leaves to let sun in and build fruit buds.

• Stop Picking
  Rhubarb (Timperley Early)

  Stop picking in midsummer so the plant can build up for next year.

• Deadhead and Feed Again
  Rose (Climbing, New Dawn)

  Snip off faded clusters and give a second rose feed for repeat flowers.

• Deadhead
  Rose (English Shrub)

  Snip spent flowers back to the first full leaf to keep new flowers coming until autumn.

• Deadhead and Feed
  Rose (Floribunda, Bush)

  Snip faded clusters back to the first full leaf and give a second rose feed for more flowers.

• Trim After Flowering
  Sage (Common)

  Shear off spent flower stems and tidy the shape.

• Cut Back for Second Flush
  Salvia (Caradonna)

  When the first flowers fade, cut the stems back to the leafy base to get a second round of flowers.

• Deadhead Regularly
  Scabious (Butterfly Blue)

  Snip off faded flowers to keep them coming until autumn.

• Deadhead
  Shasta Daisy

  Cut faded flowers back to a bud for more.

• Deal with Runners
  Strawberry (Elsanta)

  Pin a few runners into small pots for new plants; cut off the rest.

• Remove Runners
  Strawberry (Mara des Bois)

  Remove runners to keep energy going into fruit (or pot up a few for new plants).

• Pinch Out Flower Stems
  Tarragon (French)

  Remove flower stems to keep the leaves coming.

• Trim After Flowering
  Thyme (Common)

  Shear lightly after flowering to keep plants compact and leafy.

• Trim After Flowering
  Thyme (Lemon)

  Shear off faded flowers and a little leafy growth to keep it compact.

• Deadhead
  Veronica (Speedwell)

  Cut faded spikes back to the leaves for more flowers.

• Summer Prune
  Whitecurrant (White Versailles)

  Shorten this year's side shoots to five leaves.

• Deadhead
  Yarrow

  Cut faded flower heads back to a side shoot for more flowers.

Other months

What to sow in January, What to sow in February, What to sow in March, What to sow in April, What to sow in May, What to sow in June, What to sow in August, What to sow in September, What to sow in October, What to sow in November and What to sow in December.