Wondering what to plant in July when there’s another heatwave on the horizon? It’s a tough one – how do you plough your efforts into new plants when the old ones are struggling?
Although the list of things you can plant in July is long, not every plant will survive this year’s recurring heatwaves – so it’s wise to plant the flowers and crops that can tolerate hot, drought-like conditions instead.
As Ideal Home’s gardening expert and the proud owner of a small garden in London, I’m all too aware of the challenge of finding plants to add to my garden this month that won’t mind being hit with a sudden 30+ degree heatwave. Here are a few of the things I’m planting this July that can withstand a blast of heat this summer.
What you’ll need
Verve
Mali Matt White Washed Terracotta Plant Pot
Terracotta pots complement drought-tolerant plants beautifully.
Smart Garden
Smart Garden Metal Saxon Hanging Basket
Several of the plants on this list grow well in hanging baskets.
westland
Westland Potting Grit
Horticultural grit is ideal for improving soil drainage in pots.
1. Verbena
Verbena is a staple in my mum’s garden border, and the bees and butterflies absolutely love it, so I’ve been meaning to plant some in my new garden since I moved here. It’s beautiful and drought-tolerant, so it’s safe to plant around July’s heatwaves if the soil isn’t too dry.
‘Verbena bonariensis produce an absolutely stunning display of purple flowers at head height from late summer through to autumn and are shrouded in a confetti of butterflies as soon as there is a glimpse of sunshine,’ says garden expert Sarah Raven. ‘They are drought tolerant perennials so need little maintenance, but you should protect with a layer of leaf mould or compost mulch in autumn.’
You can buy ready-made mulches like this Strulch from Amazon if you’re looking to mulch around the base of plants now as a hot-weather protective measure.
Where to buy verbena:
2. Salad vegetables
Salad crops are brilliant vegetables to grow containers, and they’re also perfect for filling the gaps in beds and borders. It might seem counterproductive to plant the likes of lettuce and radishes during a heatwave, but some varieties fare better in the heat than others.
‘If you want to add some homegrown crops to your summer salads, then late sowings of beetroot, radishes, lettuce, and salad crops grow quickly in the warm soil,’ says Nigel Lawton, plant buyer at Dobbies Garden Centres.
Swiss chard is actually a drought-tolerant vegetable, and if you go for a rainbow variety like ‘Celebration’ (you can order the seeds from Thompson & Morgan), you’ll have yourself a pretty edible plant that looks as good as it tastes.
Where to buy salad seeds:
3. Pelargoniums
Pelargoniums are a popular tender perennial that produce stunning blooms from late spring all the way through to autumn, and they’ve been on my list for a while now. They’re a recommendation of Sarah’s if you’re looking for beautiful colour and fragrance in borders and pots – you’ll just need to be slightly more attentive with the watering can than other potted drought-tolerant plants.
‘Pelargoniums are not thirsty plants, but growth will become stunted if they are kept too dry,’ says Sarah Raven. ‘You should water and feed the plants well in the summer and deadhead to encourage a second flush of flowers.’
Where to buy pelargoniums:
4. Gaura
Gaura is also known as beeblossom, and it’s as pretty as it sounds – masses of delicate white flowers adorn slender stems, and remain for months on end. As luck would have it, it’s also drought-tolerant – so it’s ideal for planting this July.
‘Gaura is truly the perfect plant for lining paths and adding froth to flower beds,’ says Sarah Raven. ‘It’s a really versatile plant in that so it looks beautiful in an arrangement, but also lovely in a cloud on its own.
‘They need to be placed in full sunshine and tend to flower from June through to August. They are particularly drought-tolerant, so are really easy to maintain.’
Where to buy Gaura:
5. Herbs
I’m also thinking about planting a few drought-tolerant herbs this month, which means Mediterranean classics like rosemary, thyme and sage. They’re ideal for hot climates, so they’re a safer bet for the upcoming heatwave.
‘If you’re prepared to water, you can still plant herbs into the ground, or, better still, in pots where you can keep an eye on watering and nip off a few leaves now and then for the kitchen,’ says Topher Martyn, head gardener at Syon Park.
‘Woody Mediterranean herbs like thyme and rosemary are pretty easy to maintain and will put up with a degree of neglect.’
Where to buy herbs:
If any plants are going to survive the next heatwave, these ones definitely have a better chance!
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