Stay a cut above

JULY is peak flowering time in gardens and summer flowers are vibrant.

Climbing plants have reached new heights and homegrown fruit and veg are ready to be picked.

In between enjoying your garden, it’s important to find time to properly manage all that growth.

Start by dead-heading plants to encourage more flowers, and give them a fresh trim.

Either use secateurs or pinch off any faded blooms with your fingers. Cut just above the first set of healthy leaves, below the dying flower.

Keep an eye on your outdoor blooms when temperatures rise as your plants will need extra help to stay hydrated. Smaller pots, baskets and planters are prone to drying out and may need watering twice daily – always do this first thing or in the evenings when it’s cooler.

In dry periods, stop mowing your lawn or, if possible, raise the height of the blades. Brown patches will recover, so there’s no need to water.

If you’re growing your five-a-day at home, this month is perfect for sowing carrots, early peas, lettuce, radishes, spinach and spring cabbages.

Harvest any raspberries, blackcurrants and gooseberries and use them in your favourite summer desserts.

Growing tomatoes? Use your finger and thumb to nip out the very tip of the plant. This helps with ripening, so you don’t end up with lots of green fruit at the end of the season.

Summer is also a great time to add colour to outbuildings and fencing. Use weatherproof paint to create colourful sheds and impressive backdrops that will enhance your newly tidy plants.

For more tips on keeping your outdoors trim all year round – and to find month-by-month tasks – head to diy.com.