Practical gardening advice for UK gardens
What to do this month

July gardening jobs

July is usually one of the warmest and most productive months in UK gardens. Long days encourage fast growth and heavy cropping, but periods of heat and drought can place newly planted crops, containers and shallow rooted plants under considerable stress. Cooler and wetter conditions remain possible, particularly in northern and western areas.

Watering, harvesting and keeping vigorous plants supported are the main priorities. Regular picking keeps many vegetables productive, while succession sowing now provides crops for late summer and autumn. Borders are full of growth, so deadheading and selective cutting back help maintain displays. Warm, humid conditions can also encourage several plant diseases, making regular inspection worthwhile.

UK conditions vary. Adjust timings for your local weather, soil and exposure.

Key gardening jobs

  • Water containers, vegetables and newly planted trees and shrubs thoroughly during dry spells, concentrating water around the roots.
  • Mulch damp soil around thirsty plants to reduce evaporation and suppress competing weeds.
  • Tie tomatoes, climbing beans, cucumbers and other vigorous plants securely to their supports as they grow.
  • Pinch out the growing tips of climbing beans when they reach the tops of their supports.
  • Ventilate and shade greenhouses during hot weather to prevent excessive temperatures and plant stress.
  • Deadhead bedding plants, roses and repeat flowering perennials regularly to encourage continued flowering.
  • Raise the cutting height of lawns during prolonged dry weather and reduce mowing if growth slows.
  • Top up ponds during dry weather and remove excessive blanket weed carefully while checking for aquatic wildlife.

What to sow and plant

  • Sow lettuce, rocket and other quick growing salad leaves outdoors in small batches for continued harvests.
  • Sow spring cabbage outdoors or in modules for planting into their final positions later in the season.
  • Sow turnips, winter radish and kohl rabi outdoors for autumn harvesting.
  • Sow Chinese cabbage, pak choi and other oriental greens outdoors or in modules for late summer and autumn crops.
  • Sow carrots outdoors for a later crop, protecting seedlings from carrot fly where necessary.
  • Sow beetroot outdoors early in the month for harvesting later in the season.
  • Sow biennials such as foxgloves, honesty and wallflowers outdoors or in a nursery bed for flowering next year.
  • Plant out leeks and winter brassicas into their final positions if this has not already been done.

What to prune and harvest

  • Summer prune red and white currants and gooseberries by shortening suitable side shoots after cropping.
  • Prune established plum and cherry trees after harvesting where pruning is necessary, avoiding winter pruning of these stone fruits.
  • Cut old summer fruiting raspberry canes to ground level after their crop has finished, leaving the new canes for next year.
  • Thin overcrowded apples and pears where branches are carrying excessively heavy crops.
  • Harvest courgettes while they are young and tender to encourage plants to continue producing.
  • Harvest peas and beans frequently before pods become tough or oversized.
  • Lift early potatoes as required once the tubers have reached a useful size.
  • Harvest apricots, peaches and nectarines as individual fruits become fully ripe.

Problems to watch

  • Watch tomatoes and potatoes for signs of blight during warm, humid or persistently wet weather.
  • Check tomatoes for blossom end rot and maintain more consistent soil or compost moisture if affected.
  • Inspect brassicas for cabbage white butterfly eggs and caterpillars and remove them where practical.
  • Watch soft shoots and vegetables for aphid colonies while allowing natural predators to control small populations where possible.
  • Check asparagus foliage for asparagus beetles and remove adults or larvae when found.
  • Watch cucurbits, peas and susceptible ornamentals for powdery mildew during warm, dry conditions.
  • Check ripening fruit for wasp and bird damage and use suitable physical protection where losses become significant.
  • Watch containers, hanging baskets and newly planted crops closely for drought stress during hot or windy weather.
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