July is a month to watch out for the dreaded Lily Beetle amongst other pests. The scarlet lily beetles look quite spectacular until you see the damage they can do. It caused me immense grief last year to have to dispose of all my lilies which had become infested almost overnight. They were all pot grown so it didn’t do too much damage to the garden as a whole but it was heartbreaking none the less. Sawfly can also attack shrubs such as Berberis and also gooseberries. Do watch out for slugs on damp evenings, it isn’t so much the big ones that you need to worry about as the pesky little ones that lurk under the soil!

The dry weather in July often leads to an upsurge in the ant population which can invade your home as well as your garden so keep an eye open for them and treat accordingly. It also encourages some of the more powdery types of mildew on honeysuckle and roses amongst other. Regular watering of your tomatoes will help prevent blossom end rot and ensure a good crop so it is worth taking a few minutes every day to keep them moist.

Ripening fruits are a magnet for birds so you need to net them – and protect your brassicas and peas from marauding pigeons, they will nip the shoots out of a whole row in seconds.

Greenhouses are especially prone to pests at this time of year so sticky traps are well worth putting out to monitor the health of the green house. You also need to make sure your ventilate your greenhouse well, providing shade if necessary and damping it down when required.

House plants can often suffer in the summer – I like to place mine outside on nice days when it’s not too hot, maybe even leaving them for a day or two especially if there are light showers forecast. The plants seem to thrive on that and it freshens and cleans the leaves giving them a healthy look when they come back indoors.

There are many people who would say that the care of Houseplants is not strictly gardening but I would disagree, a houseplant is like bringing the garden indoors.  However they are not living in their natural environment and need special care in terms of light water and temperature.

One of the most important things is good quality soil and the addition of moisture holding gels can help with this as a plant without moisture will wither and die so quickly.  It also helps to retain the nutrients and stop them being washed out of the soil.

There are suitable potting mixtures available for all different plant types and moisture meters as well, though to be honest, a finger pushed just beneath the soil is just as good!

Light and air quality are also extremely important, some plants require a good light, others something a little more subdued and the wrong choice can be fatal.  One thing that can help to ensure the health of your houseplants is to put them outside for a few hours when the weather is suitable, they seem to thrive on this and it is a good opportunity to wash them and clean the leaves which always benefits the plant.

These few simple basic health rules will keep your houseplants green and glowing bringing the garden indoors to you.