Gardening Notes for June & July

The garden should be looking its best in June and July, after our work in Spring, unless you do as I did and go away for ten days and come back to find the slugs munched all the new plants (Year 1) or sun and drought frizzled them (Year 2)! This year slugs and snails have done little damage as it’s been so dry, which is another challenge of climate change.

As gardeners we try to ensure plants thrive, but how can we cope with warmer, wetter winters (raised beds?) and hotter drier summers (drought gardens)? Planting in autumn may enable plants to get established over winter to cope with dry conditions in Spring.

Now we need to prepare hanging baskets and containers and be remember to water them. Lining terracotta pots can help keep roots cool and retain moisture, as well as standing them on a saucer. Water butts were already running dry in May, so watering wisely, early morning or evening, helps conserve water.

Tall or floppy plants need to be staked before they are too big and regular deadheading keeps them flowering all summer. I have already pruned early spring-flowering shrubs, but the philadelphus is coming into bloom now and will need pruning after flowering.

The pond is still waiting for attention. I need to clear algae, blanket weed and debris, as well as remove some of the plants. I top it up from the water butt, or leave tap water to stand overnight. Despite the trees, our garden can become too hot in summer. The small paved area heats up but climbers growing on the walls reduce warming in the house. 

Using manual or electric tools rather than motor powered helps reduce CO2 in the atmosphere and mitigate climate change impacts. As plants absorb CO2 for photosynthesis we have the perfect excuse to remove some lawn and plant more: trees for shade and climbers to cool the walls and provide habitat for the wildlife we enjoy seeing in our gardens. 

What wildlife do you see in your garden?

Josephine

This article is reproduced from June’s issue of the Godmanchester parish church’s magazine with the kind permission of the author, Josephine Becker.