1. Time to trim back lavender hard if it has finished flowering, but try not to cut into the old wood. If you’re lucky you may get a few late flowers.
2. And time to give that Wisteria and Campsis a hack back by removing all the whippy growth and tidying up for the autumn.
3. Azaleas. Camellias and Rhododendrons are making their flowers for next year and need regular water at their roots or they’ll drop their buds and have no spring blooms.
4. It’s a good idea to make space by cutting back some foliage on spent plants… it’s amazing how much space this makes! It creates planting opportunities for annuals and allows flowering plants room to show off their blooms.
5. It’s time to make a note of what needs thinning out either in the autumn or the spring to make way for other plants. I have a Phlox which has spread so much it’s out-competed at least four other plants!
6. Pick runner and French beans regularly whilst small and tender, and pinch out shoots when they reach the top of their supports.
7. Stop cordon grown tomatoes outside when they’ve set four trusses by pinching out the leader shoot. Greenhouse plants can be left for five or six trusses.
8. If you have difficulty ripening some varieties of tomatoes, pick them and leave on a sunny windowsill for a few days.
Keep courgettes and squashes producing by feeding and watering.
9. Feed courgette plants and pumpkins and squashes weekly before they run out of steam. They do need regular watering.
10. Don’t forget water for the poor birds… I have four or five bird baths and fill them every day as the birds must be pretty desperate.
Pray for some rain all!
Pat K
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