Top jobs FOR JULY
Gardening season is in full swing, so make time to enjoy doing the things your outdoor space needs this month
Strawberry plants can easily be propagated. When they’ve finished fruiting, start training their runners into pots to produce new plants. Once they’ve rooted, sever from the parent plant and pot up ready for next year.
Tie climbers into their supports to prevent loose stems becoming damaged. Encouraging stems to grow horizontally will help to promote an abundance of flowers.
Any suckers appearing from the base of trees should be removed as soon as you notice them. Dig down to pull out the shoot and root rather than cutting with secateurs, particularly with vigorous plants such as sumach, raspberries and lilac.
Hardy geraniums can be trimmed back to their bases after flowering as this will encourage a second flush of blooms.
CUT BACK GERANIUMS
Prepare for time away from home by moving pots and hanging baskets into a shady part of the garden where they are less likely to dry out. Or ask a friend to come and water them.
MAKE HOLIDAY PLANS