Flower Garden - July

• Carry on pruning shrubs that flowered in spring and early summer, then feed them with one of the J Arthur Bower’s or New Horizon all-purpose plant foods.  It’s worth watering well and mulching them even at this stage in the year.

• Cut down the stems of bearded Iris now that the blooms have faded.  If the clumps are very congested dig them up and divide, cutting the rhizomes at a joint.  Trim back the leaves to 15 cm (6 inches).  Replant in ordinary garden soil with a scoop of J Arthur Bower’s Coarse Grit added, and water in.  Continue to water until established.

• Pinch out Chrysanthemum shoot tips to encourage them to branch and produce more flowering stems.

• Remove seed heads of annuals to encourage the plant to produce more flowers.

• If your Dahlias aren’t growing very strongly, give them a boost with some J Arthur Bower’s Multi-Purpose Liquid Plant Food every 10-14 days.

• Some early-flowering perennials, particularly Lupins and Delphiniums, can be encouraged to produce a second, smaller, flush of flowers if you cut the stems right down and apply a liquid feed.

• Take cuttings of non-flowering shoots from many shrubs, putting them round the edge of small pots of half and half peat and sharp sand or peat and perlite.  Water them in and keep warm but out of direct sun.  Cuttings can also be taken of Pinks.

• This is the best month to trim Hawthorn hedges.  If you cut them earlier they may need another trim, but if you leave it any later the growth will be very tough and hard to cut.

• If mounded or trailing rockery plants seem not to be flourishing after flowering, give them a top dressing of your favourite J Arthur Bower’s or New Horizon Multi-Purpose Compost and Silver Sand mixed half and half with a dusting of Fish, Blood and Bone.  Work this mixture into the plant then water well and top dress with J Arthur Bower’s Coarse Grit.

Roses

• Continue to trim back roses that have finished their first flush of blooms. Feed them with J Arthur Bower’s Rose Food.

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