July Woodland Garden Tips

Grafted Plants

Check all your grafted plants to see that there are no young shoots growing out from below the graft on the rootstock and cut them off cleanly at the base. Shoots from the rootstock are taking nutrients, water and energy away from the grafted plant which will suffer as a result. If this problem is ignored over a few years the rootstock will eventually kill and take over from the grafted plant.
 

Hedge Trimming

Trim fast growing hedges once the new growth has developed in full. This is particularly necessary for Privet, Lonicera nitida, Laurel and Yew. This will maintain the shape of your hedges even if a second trimming of secondary new growth is necessary in the autumn after a wet summer.

Pruning

Prune spring flowering shrubs such as Weigela, Deutzia and Philadelphus straight after flowering. This will encourage the development of good new growth which will produce an excellent display of flowers next year. Without pruning of old growth flowering may well be much more sparse.

 

Grass Cutting

Begin grass cutting when you are certain that all the bluebells, garlic, primroses and other spring flowering wild and native plants have set seed and died down. Take care with strimmers and grass cutters not to ringbark or damage newly planted and specimen trees and shrubs.

Watering

Watering trees and shrubs planted in spring may become necessary in dry spells or drought.  Once you have begun watering you will need to carry on until it rains again properly. Hand watering encourages new roots to grow toward the surface and therefore become even more prone to drying out.

Propagation by semi-ripe cuttings

Propagation by semi-ripe cuttings of Rhododendron 'Cornish Red'

Propagation by semi-ripe cuttings of scented Rhodies

Potting on Magnolia Seedlings

Potting on Rhododendron Seedlings

Scale Insect on Magnolias