This is the JULY installment of Horticulture Week's month-by-month guide to essential maintenance and management tasks for parks, gardens and grounds maintenance staff.
Office
Order spring-flowering bulbs
Update pesticide records
Update sowing records
Organise holiday cover as needed
Check all staff have wet-weather gear and sun block
General
Control weeds, pests and diseases
Spot treat perennial weeds
Water as needed
Top up mulches
Trees, shrubs and hedges
Remove basal growth from trees
Deadhead and prune early summer flowering shrubs
Deadhead roses and feed to boost growth
Take semi-ripe cuttings of shrubs
Take conifer cuttings
Clip conifer hedges
Beds and borders
Deadhead faded flowers
Transplant biennial seedlings
Fill any gaps with bedding plants
Cut lavender for drying
Divide bearded and rhizomatous irises
Collect seed from perennials
Apply general fertiliser to late-flowering subjects such as chrysanthemums
Wall plants
Cut back wisteria
Bulbs
Plant autumn-flowering bulbs
Order spring-flowering bulbs
Containers
Feed and water
Greenhouses and conservatories
Shade, damp down and water regularly
Start taking fuchsia and regal pelargonium cuttings
Prick out seedlings of calceolaris and browallia and other winter-flowering pot plants
Water features
Inspect regularly for algae bloom and treat accordingly
Top up as necessary
*Jobs should only be undertaken when ground and weather conditions are suitable and will vary according to location and may vary significantly from year to year. And remember that while the year nicely divides into 12 months, activities often overlap.
