Happy July everyone! Honestly I can’t believe I’m writing that – this year is going so fast. But there's no need to panic - summer has only just started and there's loads of exciting jobs to get stuck into in the garden this month! Keep reading for a jumbo July edition of Gardening with Eve, where I’ll show you how to give your houseplants a holiday, grow some super fast veg, and more...
Give your houseplants a holiday
Want to transform your patio into a sunny, tropical oasis?
Taking some of your lovely indoor plants out into the garden is the perfect way to re-style your space without having to spend a thing!
As well as making your garden look super trendy, your houseplants will really appreciate the warmth and sunlight, and the gentle breeze will help keep their leaves dust free.
Just before you head out and start designing your little leafy retreat, here’s a few quick things to know…
Sunlight
Cacti and succulents are generally fine with plenty of sunlight, but leafy plants like palms and ferns can get scorched by too much direct sun.
Try and avoid popping them anywhere that gets lots of mid-afternoon sun as it can be a shock to your houseplants – a bit like me when I go on holiday!
Water
Extra sun and breeze will dry out the soil in your houseplants quite a lot faster than when they’re inside, so make sure you keep an eye on how moist their soil is. I always rely on my trusty houseplant watering indicator to check when it’s time to give them a drink! Or, if you're going on holiday this summer, these houseplant droplet feeders are absolutely ideal to keep your plants fed while you're away.
Temperature
The general rule of thumb for houseplants is to keep them above 10°C. Temperatures don’t usually drop below this in July and August in the UK – but just keep an eye on the overnight forecast if you live somewhere quite remote or there’s a sudden cold spell.
Don’t stop deadheading!
Here’s your friendly reminder to keep on deadheading!
At this time of year, deadheading is almost a daily job for me – it's rare I don't spot a flower or two that don't need a quick snip when I'm walking through the garden.
Cutting off fading flowers doesn’t just make your plants look better, it also encourages them to grow more lovely blooms, especially at this time of year.
You can use scissors or secateurs to make your snips, but I find using pruning snips so much quicker and more satisfying.
As well as being super sharp, their special blades are long and narrow, helping you accurately deadhead even plants with lots of dense foliage.
Here’s a few pruning snips that are perfect for all your summer deadheading:
Grow Some Fast Food
Not that kind, unfortunately - although I do wish pizza grew on trees 😂
You might think July is too late for growing your own, but there’s actually still lots of time to sow and grow quick-to-mature crops like carrots, radish, and French beans that you can enjoy in a matter of weeks.
These fast-growing seeds are great for a technique called ‘successional sowing’, where you stagger sowing every couple of weeks so that you’ve always got fresh, tasty veg to enjoy!
Here's my top tips for growing speedy veg!
Carrots
Choose quick-maturing carrot varieties such as ‘Amsterdam 3’ or ‘Nantes’ that can be ready to eat in as little as 10-12 weeks from sowing! Sow your seeds thinly in good-quality compost, making sure you keep them well-watered, especially during hot, sunny weather.
Radishes
Salad radishes are some of the fastest growing veg you can get, taking as little as 4 weeks to be ready to eat from sowing! You’ll find all sorts of varieties in-store and online, but I’ve picked out two of my favourites below – just look at that amazing colour!
French Beans
French beans are another great thing to grow that will thrive in the warmth of July. They don’t take up much space, and with regular picking, they’ll keep producing until the first frosts.
My two-step guide to summer lawn care
With the hot weather and more time spent relaxing or playing on the grass, our lawns can take a bit of a beating in summer.
Thankfully, there’s two super simple steps you can follow to keep your lawn healthy and attractive all summer long…
Don’t cut too short
Try not to cut your lawn too short, especially in summer. Not only does this reduce its overall health and ability to withstand hot weather, a short lawn also gives weeds more space to grow and spread. Consider raising the blades a few notches higher the next time you get your mower out – your lawn will thank you!
Feed and condition
Feeding your lawn is a really quick and easy way to improve its health and appearance. The best time to feed is after mowing, and then it’s always a good idea to water in the feed afterwards. We’ve got a great range of lawn feeds both in-store and online…
Thanks for reading.
