As July draws to a close, gardening enthusiasts should be making the most of the warm weather and summertime tasks before the month is up – there’s one essential job to tackle in your garden
July is coming to an end, and it’s been an absolute scorcher for much of Britain, with sweltering temperatures making it perfect weather for getting outdoors. But this blazing hot spell may have left your garden looking rather worse for wear and crying out for some TLC.
There’s still time to get stuck in and tackle a vital gardening job before the month comes to a close. Pim Dickson, a horticultural expert at Fothergill’s, has pinpointed some critical eleventh-hour tasks that gardening enthusiasts should strive to finish in the next few days.
For those eager to see more flowers flourishing in their borders, one specific chore should be top of the list. The gardening specialist recommends taking time to examine your plants, particularly searching for faded blooms that require cutting back. It comes after UK households warned not to make one huge mistake in the garden next week
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Pim advised: “Take a wander around the garden with a pair of snips in hand and just remove any blooms that have finished flowering.
“This will not only tidy things up but also greatly extend the flowering season by encouraging more blooms to appear”. Deadheading proves worthwhile throughout the growing season, but for plants like chrysanthemums or geraniums that enjoy a late burst of colour, July represents the optimal moment for this technique.
This weekend offers a perfect opportunity to check over your shrubs and shower them with some tender loving care if required, reports Birmingham Live.
Pim explained: “If you have any early flowering shrubs that finished their displays, then now is the last opportunity to trim them back.
“This way they’ll look nice and tidy for the summer holidays and still have time for their new growth to mature and put on the very best displays next year.”
How to deadhead your plants:
You’ll need to remove the bloom along with its stem to maintain your plant’s finest appearance.
However, for plants with thick, sturdy or fibrous stems, it’s advisable to use secateurs, scissors or a knife for deadheading.
Simply trim away the spent flower, ensuring you position the cut just above the next bud or leaf on the stem.