Borders should be at their prime now. Sit down for 5 minutes and enjoy
them. Make notes of anything that is too crowded or in the wrong place
so that it can be corrected in the autumn.
Continue to deadhead Herbaceous border plants to keep them tidy and
preventing the formation of seed pods that will stop flowering.
Cut lavender spikes for drying and give the plants a trim when they
finish flowering.
Propagate camellias by layering.
Use non flowering shoots of heathers to take cuttings.
Spray roses and michaelmas daisies against mildew.
Keep dahlias well watered and remove all side shoots if growing for
showing. Set earwig traps to prevent damage to petals.
Take cuttings of evergreen shrubs like euonymus. Conifers cuttings can
also be taken now.
Earwigs can be a real pest on Dahlias as they eat the flower buds. Dust
with BHC dust to control them. Alternatively place a plantpot full of
straw upside down on a cane. Earwigs find these very attractive as a home
but they must be emptied of earwigs every day.
Cut off suckers that have formed on Roses.
Tie in new growth of climbing roses to prevent damage to the new stems.
Cut and dry 'Everlasting' flowers like Statice, Helichrysum and Achillea
for use in dried flower displays.
Dianthus, Carnation and Pinks cuttings that were rooted last month will
now be ready for planting in their final positions.
Border Carnations and Pinks that were layered last month should now
be ready for planting into their final positions or they can be potted
up and over-wintered in a cold frame.
Prune rambler Roses as they finish flowering.
As soon as Lavenders have finished flowering they should be clipped
to prevent them from becoming bare at the bases.
Deadhead annuals as the flowers fade to encourage more flowering.
Take cuttings of hardy shrubs like hebes, choisya and euonymus.
Pinch out the tops of spring bedding to encourage bushy plants.
Prune unwanted stems on wisteria if not already done as this will help
to ripen next years flower buds.
Plant up baskets for winter displays.
Trim hedges for the last time.
Collect seeds of hardy annual in preparation for sowing next month.
