It’s summertime, and in the garden, everything is growing like crazy! Now’s the time to really enjoy your garden, and to keep it looking great, here are our top gardening tips for July.
At Boma, our horticultural experts are always on hand to help you make the most of your space, whether you’re nurturing a sun-drenched balcony or a lush London garden. These 21 July gardening tips will help you enjoy your garden at its best – while preparing for the months to come.
And if you need personalised advice, or just want to browse our full range of summer plants, herbs, bulbs, tools and irrigation systems, we’d love to help. Visit Boma Garden Centre in Kentish Town, London for everything you need to help your garden thrive in July.
What To Do in the Garden in July
By now, your garden is likely in full summer swing – containers overflowing, borders buzzing with bees, and tomatoes beginning to swell under the sun. But with the longer days come longer to-do lists. July is that sweet spot between enjoyment and upkeep, when small, thoughtful actions can keep the beauty going strong and set you up for success later in the season.
This is the season of nurturing: watering frequently, deadheading generously, feeding thoughtfully. Whether you’re coaxing another flush of flowers from your delphiniums, or pinching out your tomatoes and broad beans to guide their energy toward fruit, every small act contributes to the great, unfolding work of midsummer gardening.
But July is not only about maintenance – it’s also about preparation. As high summer unfolds, gardeners with an eye to the future might start to sow biennials in the flower garden for next year, tuck autumn bulbs into warm soil, and rejuvenate tired patches with fresh herbs and vibrant bedding plants.
21 Summer Gardening Tips for July
You might already be noticing thirsty plants, fast-growing climbers, or gaps where spring colour has faded. Maybe your herbs are thriving, but your salads are bolting. Or perhaps you’re wondering what to plant next, and how to make the most of these golden weeks.
That’s where our expert tips come in. We’ve gathered the 21 most useful July garden jobs to help you enjoy your garden now, while keeping things blooming well into late summer and beyond.
With our great range of plants, tools and gardening equipment, you’re sure to find everything you need for your own garden in our London garden centre, so pay us a visit soon!
Sow salad crops (lettuce)
Keep your summer salads fresh and homegrown by sowing lettuce, rocket and other leafy greens every couple of weeks. To avoid bitter-tasting leaves and bolting, plant them in dappled shade or where they’ll get some relief from the afternoon sun. At Boma Garden Centre in the heart of London, you’ll find fresh seed packets and seasonal salad seedlings perfect for continuous summer sowing.
Watering plants in high heat
Long, dry spells can leave plants parched and vulnerable. Water container plants and thirsty perennials like hydrangea, salvia, and anemone regularly, giving them a deep soak rather than a light sprinkle. Boma’s watering cans and hoses will help you stay ahead of the heat. Your garden will thank you.
Watering best practices/tools
Make the most of your watering efforts by doing it early morning or late evening to reduce evaporation. Use rainwater where possible, and consider installing a Gardena irrigation system to help automate and optimise your watering routine. The team here at Boma can walk you through Gardena options and even advise on setup tailored to your garden.
Feed fruiting plants
Help your plants turn blossoms into bumper crops. Tomatoes, beans, courgettes, blueberries, peppers and gooseberries all thrive with a fortnightly dose of high-potash liquid feed to keep fruits forming and flavourful. Pick up specialist feeds at Boma, and ask our team which will give your crops the tastiest results.
Deadhead roses/sweet peas
Now is the time to deadhead roses! Regular deadheading of flowers like roses, cosmos, and sweet peas not only keeps your borders looking tidy but encourages more blooms. Snip spent heads and gather the rest in a vase to enjoy their scent indoors. Boma’s pruning tools make it easy to keep your displays going strong.
Pinch out cordon tomatoes
To focus your cordon tomatoes on fruit production, pinch out the leafy side shoots that appear in the fork between the main stem and branches. Less leaf, more luscious tomatoes. Our tomato plant range at Boma includes cordon types, and our experts can guide you on exactly how to train them.
Harvest courgettes and beans
Pick courgettes and runner beans while they’re small and tender to keep the plant productive. The more you harvest, the more they grow – it's nature's encouragement loop. At Boma, we have grown the same productive varieties we recommend, so we know what thrives in London gardens.
Pinch out broad beans
Once your broad beans start to form pods, pinch out the top shoots. This discourages blackfly and helps the plant focus energy on its harvest. Our team at Boma can show you how – or help you choose companion plants to naturally deter pests.
Summer prune wisteria
It’s time to prune wisteria! Give your wisteria its summer trim by cutting this year’s long whippy growth back to five or six leaves. It keeps the plant tidy and sets the stage for next spring’s fragrant show. Boma stocks healthy wisteria plants and the tools you need for a clean, confident summer prune.
Lift and divide irises
After flowering, it's time to lift and divide bearded irises. Replant the healthiest rhizomes with the tops just peeking above the soil, where they can bask in the sun and store energy for next year. Visit Boma for iris-friendly compost and tips from our staff on getting your divisions to thrive.
Cut back hardy geraniums
When your hardy geraniums start looking tired and leggy, cut them right back. A bold move now will reward you with a flush of fresh foliage and possibly even a second round of blooms. We have fresh replacements at Boma too, in case your old ones need retiring.
Geranium Ivy Trailing Single Flower Pink
Earthing up potatoes
Mound up soil around your maincrop potatoes to prevent sunlight turning them green and toxic. Your early varieties should be ready to harvest – just dig around gently to check the size. Pop into Boma for grow bags, seed potatoes, and guidance on growing spuds in small spaces.
Mow lawn carefully in heat
In hot weather, mow less often and raise the blade height to reduce stress on your lawn. Longer grass helps shade the roots and keeps things greener for longer. We can help you choose a lawn feed or repair solution at Boma if your grass is struggling.
Sow biennials (wallflowers, etc.)
Now’s the moment to sow next year’s wallflowers, foxgloves, and honesty. They need time to grow strong before autumn so they can bloom proudly come spring. You’ll find all your favourite biennials on the seed racks at Boma – and our team knows which ones really shine in London gardens.
Cut back delphiniums after flowering
If your delphiniums have finished their dramatic display, cut them back to encourage a second, lighter flush later in the season. Add a mulch and water well to help them along. Our mulch options at Boma help you lock in moisture and support reblooming perennials.
Stone fruit pruning
Prune peaches, plums, cherries and apricots while they’re in leaf to prevent silver leaf disease. Keep cuts clean and well-placed to promote healthy future growth. Boma stocks quality pruning tools and can show you the best technique for tricky cuts.
Plant autumn-flowering bulbs
Get ahead by planting nerines and colchicums this month. These autumn-flowering bulbs bring unexpected colour when other plants are fading. Visit Boma’s stunning plant sanctuary bulb section to find something beautiful and surprising for autumn interest.
Herb garden care and planting
Harvest your summer herb collections like basil, parsley, and thyme regularly to keep them bushy and productive. If you’re starting fresh, our instant herb collections are ready to go. We’ve got potted herbs grown locally and ready to harvest – just ask us for a bundle to suit your kitchen.
Bedding plant care
Water and feed bedding plants like petunias, geraniums, lobelia and osteospermum to keep containers and borders vibrant. Using moisture-control compost helps reduce the frequency of watering in dry spells. Boma’s bedding plant greenhouse is brimming with fresh colour – come choose your palette.
Climber care beyond wisteria
Summer is the time to prune climbers like clematis, honeysuckle and jasmine. Remove dead stems, tidy up tangled growth and train new shoots along supports to keep them flowering freely. Ask Boma’s team how to tame your climbers and train them beautifully along fences or arches.
Imaginative landscaping
Use pots and planters creatively to add structure and beauty to your outdoor space. From glazed terracotta to sleek eco-plastic, you can play with levels, colours and shapes – and still keep things practical with moisture-retaining compost and clever positioning. Boma’s container range and display gardens are full of inspiration for making the most of your space.
Create Your Dream July Garden With Boma’s Plants & Containers…
City balcony or sprawling garden – every space deserves to thrive in the height of summer. At Boma, we’ve got everything you need to keep your garden blooming beautifully through July. From sun-loving flowering plants and kitchen garden essentials to elegant containers, water-wise solutions, and expert guidance, it’s all here in one inspiring space.
Looking for the perfect feed for your fruit trees? Need vibrant bedding to refresh tired borders? Want to explore new plants for colour and texture? Our knowledgeable team is ready to help you choose exactly what suits your space, style, and gardening goals.
Visit Boma Garden Centre in Kentish Town and let your garden flourish with the tools, plants and advice that make all the difference. This summer, grow something beautiful with us.
July Gardening Tips Popular Questions
What can I sow in the kitchen garden in July?
July is a productive time in the kitchen garden, with ripening crops and opportunities to sow more for late summer, autumn, and even next spring. You can still sow quick-growing crops like carrots, beetroot, radishes, salad leaves, and beans, along with herbs like parsley and dill, and longer-term crops like chard and spring cabbage. With regular watering and a bit of care, you'll enjoy continued harvests and get a head start on winter growing.
How should I care for flowering plants, hanging baskets, and new plants in July's dry weather?
July can be tough on flowering plants and hanging baskets due to intense heat and dry weather. Water them early in the morning or late evening, and feed weekly to keep blooms going strong. New plants also need regular deep watering and mulch to help their roots settle in. Use moisture-retaining compost or add grass clippings around the base to reduce evaporation and maintain soil health.
Is it important to deadhead and prune in summer and which plants should I focus on?
Yes – deadheading roses and other early flowering perennials like geums or hardy geraniums encourages more blooms and stops energy going into seed pods. It’s also a great time to prune spring flowering shrubs once they’ve finished their show. This keeps plants tidy and promotes healthy new growth for next year.
What should I do with fruit trees and other edible crops in July?
Fruit trees benefit from summer care like thinning overcrowded fruits to support better quality and size. Mulching with compost or grass clippings helps retain moisture during dry spells. You can also sow fast-maturing crops like salad leaves and herbs, while feeding existing crops like tomatoes and beans to boost your harvests.
Can I still plant or sow in July, or is it too late?
It’s not too late at all. July is a brilliant time to plant heat-loving flowering plants or herbs and sow biennials like wallflowers for next spring. With regular care, even new plants can thrive. Just be sure to water consistently, especially in dry weather, and deadhead spent blooms to encourage continuous flowering and healthy growth.
