Mzz B"s July Garden blog

Campanula Irridcescent Bells

Oriental Poppy

Aeonium Voodoo

Pot of annual bedding plants

Rose- Shropshire Lad

The garden in June has been absolutely amazing- everything seems to have grown taller and bigger and more colourful.A combination of last years rain, which has been great for our very well drained soil, plus not a lot of frost last winter. Unfortunately for those in the village who have clay soil all that rain was terrible as it drowned and killed plants and then baked hard in the hot sun of May. One star of the garden has been a plant given to me by a friend- Campanula Irridescent Bells- its starts deep purple then gradually fades to pale mauve- a show stopper, and many of our garden visitors have commented on it.
The garden, Tattenhall Hall attracted a large number of people again for our Charity Open Day, the money raised from the tea and cakes went to the School Eco Project. The rest of the money raised goes to the National Garden Scheme who donate to a wide variety of Cancer Charities, Macmillan Nurses etc.

Jobs to do in July

• Prune shrubs like forsythia, deutzia, weigelia, kerria, philadelphus- mock orange. Also climbers including honeysuckle, jasmine, star jasmine and wisteria can be a tangled mess by the end of the season. Pruning in summer removes masses of soft, nitrogen-rich growth, and if repeated every year, will gradually allow flower-promoting potash to build up in the plant.
• Cut back perennials that have gone over and encourage a second flush of flowers
• Dead head everything including roses regularly and feed.
• Water and feed sweet peas
• Take softwood cutting of shrubs like pyracantha, continus, hydrangea and spirea.
• Keep and eye out for pests like lily beetle and aphids – squish rather than use insecticide. Lily beetles have a clever habit of turning upside down when approached turning from bright red to black, so put one hand beneath them to catch them as they attempt to escape!
• Sow biennials like foxgloves, wallflowers and honesty.
• Thin out apples and pears, remove damaged or malformed fruits.
• Prune plum trees in dry weather to avoid fungus.
• Sow last peas and beans for an autumn crop.
• Sow salad leaves, rocket and radishes.
• Trim hedges now the nesting season is over.

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