As we head into July it is time to rake in the rewards of the past seasons. It is time to tidy, collect, and enjoy seeing your hard work pay off.
In this edition, we’ll share tips on maintaining your garden through the heat and spotlight some of July’s standout plants. Whether you're a seasoned gardener or just starting, we have something for everyone to ensure your garden thrives this month.
Join us as we explore the magic of Midsummer!
Monthly Quiz
First things first, it's time for a quiz! Do you know the answers to the following questions?
- Fleabane is the common name for which much loved perennial?
- Can you unscramble this tall moisture-lover which is featured in our planted borders: DANIPIFLUEL
- Why are ladybirds considered essential in the garden?
What's Looking Great This Month?
This month, it's a challenge to highlight just a few plants that are looking good, as The Growing Nursery is brimming with stunning colours, captivating scents, and lush foliage.
That said, these are the plants that we felt deserve a special mention.
Heuchera are standout performers. Known for their striking foliage, which comes in a wide array of colours from deep purples to bright greens, heucheras add a splash of colour to any garden and provide excellent ground cover. Their delicate, bell-shaped flowers also attract pollinators.
Crocosmia, with their fiery red and orange blossoms, are captivating. These summer-flowering plants are not only visually appealing but also easy to grow. Their arching flower spikes add a dynamic, vertical element to garden designs, and they thrive in sunny spots with well-drained soil.
Kniphofia, or red hot pokers, are another highlight. Their tall, torch-like flower spikes in hues of red, orange, and yellow are hard to miss. These hardy perennials prefer full sun in a position that isn’t too wet over winter.
Eryngium is gaining admiration for its unusual and striking appearance. With spiky blue flowers and a thistle-like texture, eryngium adds an exotic touch to garden beds and borders. These plants are also loved by bees and butterflies, promoting biodiversity.
Top Tips for Beginners
Water & feed sweet peas regularly and pick them every few days to keep them flowering. That way, as well as extending the flowering period, you can enjoy their delicate scent and pretty colours in a vase indoors.
Deadhead roses to encourage repeat flowering. Whilst you are using your secateurs, trim any longer branches to shape your shrub roses.
Plant flowers for bees, such as salvia, nepeta, and veronicastrum. Rainy summers limit the amount of time bees can spend foraging, so we need to support bees with plants they love.
Top Tips for All Gardeners
In periods of dry weather (which we hope we will see soon!) prioritise watering recently added plants. Lawns can be allowed to go brown, and established shrubs and trees will find their own water.
Plant autumn interest such as autumn bulbs in pots, such as nerine, ready for September onwards.
Cut newly opened lavender spikes. Bundle several spikes together with a rubber band or string and hang them upside down in a cool, dark, and dry place with good air circulation. Allow them to dry for about two to four weeks. Once dried, you can enjoy the soothing scent from their essential oils throughout your home.
Our Pick of the Month
Salvia microphylla comes in many beautiful colours, ranging from a pale to a cerise pink, and a deep purple. Their spikes of flowers they add interest to borders – and are heaven for bees!
Our varieties include Angel Wings, Cherry Lips, and Amethyst Lips. This border filler flowers all summer long and has an aromatic foliage.
Quiz Answers
- Erigeron
- Filipendula
- They eat aphids and scale insects which can damage plants
Well done if you got three points!
Thanks for reading. We hope to see you at The Growing Nursery soon.
