The Lawn
Watering is one of the most time-consuming jobs this month. For best results, water early in the morning or late in the evening for minimal evaporation. Lawns may be showing signs of stress, but they are very resilient, and a dry brown lawn will recover fully with a downpour or two. However, it is still important not to neglect to water your garden while on holiday. It is well worth asking a family member, friend or neighbour to pop around regularly or consider installing an irrigation system to take away the worry.
Vegetables
There is a lot to harvest this month. Potatoes should be ready to dig up and enjoy, and runner beans should be cropping heavily. Runner beans freeze well after a quick blanch in boiling water. Broad beans are great this month too. Remember to cut the plants down after harvesting but leave the roots in the soil to release nitrogen as they decompose, enriching the soil.
Courgettes should be picked regularly to avoid them growing into marrows, perhaps leaving a few to grow into these garden giants. Tomatoes should be picked frequently, and the plants should be monitored closely, removing any side shoots that are growing. Remember to feed plants regularly.
Continue to sow salad leaves and radishes but in small amounts to ensure regular cropping. Sow the final batch of peas and dwarf beans for an autumn crop.
Fruit
Strawberries are still fruiting well and are juicy and delicious. Raspberries are just coming to their best with succulent fruits as are blackcurrants, redcurrants and gooseberries, all of which preserve well. If you have nectarines and peaches, they should be perfect to pick now.
Flowers
To ensure continuous flowering, deadhead bedding plants and repeat-flowering perennials and they will continue to look magnificent. With some tender loving care sweet peas should be full of perfume and colour for months to come.
Rob Bullock
