Flowers garden job checklist - week 31

23 - 29 July 2012

It's time to...

Summer prune wisteria, shortening all long wispy sideshoots back to about 20cm
Water hydrangea bushes with a hydrangea colourant for true blue colour next summer
Take clematis cuttings or layer new shoots by pegging them down into the soil to root
Layer long sideshoots of border carnations into soil prepared with potting compost. Make a slit in each stem, peg down to hold firm, and wait to root
Water plants, such as roses, climbers and shrubs growing against dry sunny walls
Plant bulbs of the Madonna lily in a sunny spot
Prune ornamental cherries while the weather is hot and dry to reduce the risk of silver leaf disease
Plant colchicums, nerines, sternbergia and autumn crocuses
Deadhead geraniums and other bedding plants so they don't waste energy setting seed, and to keep plants looking tidy
Water hanging baskets and pots of summer-flowering bedding plants. Never let compost completely dry out or it can be very difficult to re-wet