Gardening time in July: enjoying, caring and looking ahead

July is perhaps the most beautiful month in the garden. Plants everywhere are in full bloom, the lawn looks fresh green and in the air you can hear the summer buzz of bees and the gentle flutter of butterflies. It is a month when, as a garden lover, you can fully enjoy all that grows and blooms. Yet, despite the calm that summer seems to bring, there is still plenty to do for those who look at the garden with attention.

Putting new plants in the ground is not something we usually do in this warm month. Instead, we set our sights on the future. What bulbs do we want to plant next fall? Are there corners of the garden we want to change or rearrange? July is the time to start thinking about this. As you walk among the flowers, you can dream about a new layout, a border in a different color theme or perhaps even a small pond or seating area.

And think about the little helpers in your garden, too. Earwigs are useful insects that eat aphids and other pests. They help keep your plants healthy without you having to intervene yourself. You can easily support them by making a hiding place for them yourself: fill a small pot with straw and hang it upside down on a bush or tree, or put it on a stick among the plants. This way you are not only being creative and useful, but the pot also looks nice in your garden.

Watering remains a concern in July. Try to delay watering as long as possible, so that plants learn to root deeper on their own. When you do need to water, preferably do so in the early morning or early evening, when the sun is less bright and the water is better absorbed. In periods of drought, you may of course water a little more often. Don’t forget your container and patio plants: They need daily water and weekly fertilizer to keep them growing and thriving.

Want to continue enjoying floral splendor? Then remove spent flowers regularly. This promotes the production of new buds. On the other hand, those who want to collect seeds do well to leave some flowers in place. July is an excellent time to start harvesting seeds of both perennials and annuals, such as Digitalis, Verbascum, Cosmos and Salvia. Let the seeds dry well and store them in paper bags or envelopes in a cool, dry place.

So you see: even in the warm, lazy days of July, there are still plenty of little chores to do. They not only keep your garden healthy and beautiful, but also increase your enjoyment of gardening. And while you’re watering, pruning or quietly gathering seeds, enjoy everything that’s already there at that moment – blooming, humming and full of life.