July is an essential month for garden care, especially for those seeking to maintain vibrant outdoor spaces during the summer. Jack Stooks, King Charles’ senior gardener with over 20 years of experience at the Royal gardens at Highgrove, offers valuable guidance for July gardening tasks.

Jack recommends deadheading flowers and plants to encourage new blooms. He stresses the importance of feeding and watering gardens during warmer weather to ensure they remain healthy. Additionally, he advises trimming overgrown sections of borders, mulching beds to retain moisture and suppress weeds, and staking tall flowers to prevent them from falling.

For fruit and vegetable crops, Jack suggests harvesting produce such as courgettes, tomatoes, salad crops, potatoes, runner beans, beets, and early raspberries throughout the month. He also notes that while house plants typically do not need extra care, they may require additional attention and watering during extreme temperature changes.

Following Jack Stooks’ expert advice can help gardeners maximize their efforts and enjoy robust, flourishing gardens in July.