What to do in the garden and home in July

July asks more of the watering can than any other month, and that is where most of the effort goes: containers, new plantings and vegetables in a pot will not survive on rainfall alone through a dry spell, however good the soil underneath them is.

Watering priorities

Newly planted trees, shrubs and anything still in a container need watering several times a week in dry weather, because their roots have not yet reached moisture further down. Established borders and lawns cope better and can usually go without, since deep-rooted plants find their own water once settled.

• Water in the early morning or evening, so less is lost to evaporation before it reaches the roots
• Give containers and hanging baskets a proper soak rather than a light sprinkle, since a shallow watering encourages roots to stay near the surface where they dry out fastest
• Tomatoes, courgettes and beans in full growth need the most consistent watering of anything in the vegetable garden

Lawns in a dry July

A lawn that has gone brown in July is very often dormant rather than dead, and it will usually green up again once rain returns. Watering a lawn through a dry spell is optional, and mowing on a higher cut than usual helps it hold moisture and cope with the heat.

Hedges and pruning

July is a sensible month for cutting formal hedges, because the main bird nesting season has largely finished by now, though it is worth checking for any late nests before you start. Deadheading roses and bedding plants little and often keeps them flowering for longer, since a spent bloom left in place tells the plant to put its energy into seed rather than the next flower.

Harvesting and greenhouse care

Soft fruit, courgettes and early potatoes are usually ready through July, and picking regularly encourages plants such as courgettes to keep producing rather than swelling one fruit at the expense of the rest. In a greenhouse or polytunnel, ventilate on hot days and consider some shading, because temperatures inside can climb well past what most plants can tolerate even when it feels mild outside.

Before you go away

If you are away for more than a few days in July, containers and grow bags are the first thing to fail without attention, so it is worth arranging watering or grouping pots somewhere shaded before you leave. It is also worth a quick look at gutters and downpipes while ladders and dry weather make it easy, since a blocked gutter causes far more damage once the autumn rain arrives than it would if cleared now. For jobs further round the house, the home maintenance guidance covers what else is worth checking at this time of year, and the garden maintenance pages go into more detail on lawns, hedges and borders. If you are looking ahead, August's jobs follow on directly from most of what is listed here.