July is often when gardens across Lancashire are at their fullest.
Hanging baskets are flowering, pots are packed with summer colour and borders are starting to fill out. But warmer weather, longer dry spells and weeks of active growth can also place plants under pressure. A little regular care now can keep pots, baskets and borders looking good for much longer, rather than waiting until plants begin to struggle.
Water pots and baskets thoroughly
Containers can dry out quickly during July, particularly hanging baskets, smaller pots and anything placed against a warm wall or on paving. A quick splash over the leaves often isn’t enough as water needs to reach the compost and soak down towards the roots.
Aim the water at compost level and water slowly. Check the compost first by pushing a finger just below the surface. The top can look dry while the compost underneath is still damp, or it can look wet after light rain while the root area remains dry.
Very dry compost can also shrink away from the sides of a pot. When this happens, water may run straight through without soaking in properly. Water slowly, pause for a few minutes, then water again.
Early morning or evening is generally the best time to water during hot weather because less water is lost through evaporation.
Feed containers that are showing plenty of flowers
Pots and hanging baskets rely on a limited amount of compost, so their nutrients can run low during the summer. Regular watering can also wash nutrients through the compost, especially during hot spells when containers need watering more frequently. A suitable liquid feed can help maintain flowering and encourage healthy growth. However, it is advisable to follow the instructions on the product rather than adding extra feed, as overfeeding can damage plants.
Tomatoes and other fruiting plants may need a more specific feed, while summer bedding and flowering baskets can benefit from a general container or basket feed.
Deadhead faded flowers
Removing faded flowers helps keep plants tidy and can encourage them to produce more blooms. Focus on bedding plants, roses, dahlias, geraniums and other repeat-flowering plants. Remove the finished flower along with the developing seed head where possible. A few minutes spent deadheading each week can make a noticeable difference to how pots, baskets and borders look through the rest of July.
Cut back tired or leggy growth
Some summer plants begin to lose their shape after several weeks of growth. Hanging baskets can become uneven, bedding plants may stretch towards the light and certain perennials can start to flop or look untidy.
Trim back long or tired growth using clean secateurs. Avoid removing too much at once. A light, selective cut can encourage fresh growth and help the plant keep a fuller shape. Remove any damaged, yellow or dead leaves at the same time.
Check regularly for pests
Warm weather can bring increased activity from aphids, slugs, snails and other garden pests.
Check the undersides of leaves, growing tips and new flower buds. Catching a problem early is far easier than dealing with a heavy infestation later. Aphids may cause curled or distorted growth, while slugs and snails often leave irregular holes and silvery trails. Choose a treatment that is suitable for the plant and the location. You may also be able to remove small numbers of pests by hand or wash aphids away with water.
Watch for signs of heat stress
Wilting doesn’t always mean a plant needs more water. Plants can temporarily wilt during the hottest part of the day, even when the compost is still damp. Check the compost before watering again. Common signs of heat stress include scorched leaves, dry leaf edges, dropped flowers and plants wilting for long periods.
Move smaller containers into a slightly more sheltered position if they are repeatedly drying out. Plants beside south-facing walls, glass, dark fencing or paved areas can experience more heat than the rest of the garden.
Keep borders watered where needed
Established plants in borders generally cope better with dry weather than plants in pots, but newly planted shrubs, perennials and bedding still need attention. Water deeply and less frequently rather than giving the surface a light sprinkle every day. This encourages water to reach further into the soil.
Direct the water towards the base of the plant. A layer of mulch can also help reduce moisture loss and keep the soil cooler around the roots.
Fill gaps with late summer colour
By July, you may notice gaps where earlier plants have finished or where bedding has failed to establish.
These spaces can be refreshed with flowering perennials, replacement bedding, grasses or plants that will continue providing colour into late summer. Before adding anything new, consider how much sun the area receives and how quickly the soil or compost dries out. Matching the plant to the position gives it a much better chance of settling in successfully.
What to do if a hanging basket is already struggling
A struggling basket may still recover. Start by checking the compost, if it is completely dry, water slowly in stages so the compost has time to absorb the moisture.
Remove faded flowers, dead leaves and badly damaged growth. Trim back excessively long stems to improve the overall shape. Once the plant has begun to recover from drought stress, resume feeding according to the product instructions.
Avoid feeding a plant that is severely dry. Water it first and allow it time to recover.
What to do if pots are looking tired
Tired containers may need more than water. Check whether the compost has dropped or become compacted. Top up with fresh compost where there is enough room, taking care not to bury the plant stems. Remove dead growth, check for pests and assess whether the container is overcrowded. Some plants may need cutting back, while badly failed plants can be replaced to refresh the display.
If water runs straight through the pot, soak it slowly and check that the drainage holes are clear.
What to do if borders are struggling
Dry, compacted soil can make it difficult for water to reach plant roots. Water slowly around the base of affected plants and remove weeds that are competing for moisture. Cut back dead or badly damaged material, but avoid heavily pruning plants during periods of extreme heat.
Newly planted areas may need repeated deep watering until the plants become established.
If a border has persistent gaps or plants continue to fail, it may be worth reassessing the soil, drainage and amount of sunlight before replanting.
Keep on top of small jobs
July garden maintenance doesn’t need to take hours.
Regular watering checks, feeding, deadheading and light cutting back can prevent smaller problems from becoming much harder to solve. It also helps summer displays continue flowering into August rather than running out of steam halfway through the season.
Old Oak Farm Nurseries stocks summer plants, compost, plant feed, pots, garden care products and seasonal colour.
Contact Old Oak Farm Nurseries or call in to the nursery on Bells Lane, PR5 0JJ, and ask the team for advice if your pots, baskets or borders need a mid-summer refresh.
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