What to plant in July

Depending on how the weather has been, we find that July in the garden will go one of two ways.  If it’s been warm and wet, everything seems to put on a growth spurt and you get lush, often floppy, foliage spilling out all over your borders and paths.  But, if it’s been drier, you might find that your early flowering plants have finished but your later flowering plants aren’t quite in full swing yet.  But isn’t that constant variety one of the joys of gardening?

We have two suggestions to help bring some flowers to your July garden.  Both are quite structural, so will provide height if you have floppy foliage, and both are in flower now to help fill that mid-summer gap.  They are Hemerocallis and Echinacea.  Here are their key facts.

Hemerocallis

Also known as the daylily because each individual bloom only lasts for one day, it gets its name from the Greek words ‘hemera’ meaning day and ‘kallos’ meaning beauty.  Just keep picking off the spent flowers as they finish to keep more flowers blooming.

Plant profile

  • Daylilies are a low maintenance perennial, will grow in most soils and are generally pest and disease-free.
  • They are suitable for borders or containers but prefer full sun.
  • They can be bought as bare-root plants early in the year or in pots throughout the year.
  • Keep them well-watered during dry weather but don’t feed (as this encourages leaves over flowers).
  • Other than dead-heading, leave the foliage to die back naturally to provide over-winter shelter for pollinators.
  • Divide every 3 to 5 years to keep your clump healthy and create new clumps. (See our blog here on how to do this: https://hambrooks.co.uk/dividing-herbaceous-perennials/)
  • Warning – all parts of Hemerocallis are toxic to cats if eaten.
Daylillies

Echinacea

Also known as the coneflower, Echinacea is loved by insects and birds, and research shows that it has a variety of medicinal properties for humans too.  Echinacea derives its name from the Greek word ‘ekhinos’ for hedgehog in reference to its spiky central cone.

Plant profile

  • A perennial plant with long-lived, daisy-like flowers that are excellent for cutting.
  • Prefers well-drained soil in full sun, will grow in borders or pots.
  • Will tolerate most soil types but will need watering if it is really dry.
  • Good resistance to strong winds and won’t need staking.
  • Available as potted plants or as packets of seed if you want to try growing from scratch.
  • Deadhead individual flowers to encourage new ones but leave flowers to turn into seeds in autumn for the birds.
  • Divide congested clumps in the autumn or spring to keep them healthy and create new plants.
  • Not toxic to humans or animals.
coneflower

Further reading this month:
Looking after your garden while you’re away – our tips here
Our advice on caring for your garden in dry weather
Suggestions for jobs in your garden this July

Testimonials

Hambrooks

Testimonials

N. Haggard 20 September 2022

I just wanted to drop you a quick note to say how delighted I am with my new garden.

Jon, my designer, listened to my ideas and delivered on everything I asked for. I wanted something different to any garden I’d had before, no lawn, no landscaping but packed with plants. He designed such a lovely secret garden, around a statement tree. And I have to commend him for his unwavering patience! I changed my mind a hundred times but never did he give me the impression that he was losing patience with my endless indecision. And my confidence in him led me to place an order for over £10k.

My landscaping team, Blade and Tony, were exceptional, from their work ethic, skill and knowledge, to the way they dealt with me, the customer. My standards are very high and I couldn’t fault them.

All in all, a very professional team of people. And it showed that they all care. I’m over the moon with the finished result. I will send you a before and after photo. Thank you so much.

A delighted customer.

G. Gray. May 2022

My front garden has been transformed by Andy and Bradley who both worked incredibly hard and I am delighted with the result. Andy had the vision and skill to turn my idea into reality and I can't thank him enough.

C. Haig Sept 2021

We recently had our garden landscaped by Hambrooks and I just wanted to pass on my thanks, not just for the outcome - which is superb - but for the professionalism of all the staff involved on the job who are all a credit to you company. Mike, Dave, Les and Adam.

H. Sharp Sept 2021

I just wanted to let you know how delighted I am with my new garden. Melanie was a delight to work with and the ideas she had have worked perfectly. Also Sheldon laid the patio beautifully and him and Dave were a pleaseure to have at my house. Quiet workers and polite.

B. Rendell April 2021

I would like to say how delighted we are with the work carried out. Mel, Paul and Tony all worked very hard, they totally took on board the specific need relating to safety as well as the general garden issues. Paul and Tony were excellent at consulting and discussing with me what I felt best in terms of the brief and adjusting if and as necessary, constantly pleasant and polite to deal with. Mel had picked up on particular issues from the first consultation and offered valuable advice. The outcome means a great deal less worry for me going forward.
Altogether a very positive experience and outcome which I would not hesitate to recommend to others.

Stephen March 2021

Dom and Adam's work (garden maintenance) is greatly appreciated. Dom really listened to everything we discussed very carefully and went out of his way to understand and then act upon that discussion. We are extremely pleased with the work done - both to the pond and pyracantha.

Marsha

We have been coming to Hambrooks for years and it's our favourite garden centre because of its friendly helpful staff and a great selection of plants and trees and the garden design ideas.

“We wanted to write and say how pleased we are with our low maintenance garden makeover. We are very impressed with the attitude of your staff who were prepared to listen to our requirements. Your team John and Rick brushed up and left everything tidy at the end of the day. We now have a garden we can manage and it looks great. THANK YOU HAMBROOKS.”

Mr & Mrs Venables, Southampton. April 2019

“Dear Josh & Mike We just want to say you both did a brilliant job of designing our garden along with the guys who did the work who were amazing. A few weeks on its looks even better now some of the plants are blooming. Thank you!!”

Mr & Mrs Gazzard, Winchester July 2019

“To James, John & Rikki. Thank you so much, we are delighted with our new garden. We really appreciate the attention to detail, the high quality workmanship and the standard of the finished project. We are amazed at how John & Rikki resolved the difficulties of the site and by the quality of their craftmanship. It was a pleasure to work with them and thank you for making our ideas into something we will enjoy for years to come.”
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