Summer gardening tips: make the most of June, July and August

Are you looking for practical gardening tips for the summer? Summer is the season you’ve been working towards all year. The garden is in full bloom, the evenings are long and the patio table is set out in the evening sun. But anyone who wants to keep their garden looking its best all season long knows that June, July and August demand a fair bit of effort. With the right approach – and the right tools – it’s not a chore but a pleasure. In this article, you’ll find month-by-month summer gardening tips to help you on your way, along with details of which hand-forged tools from Sneeboer are best suited to the task.

Every summer month has its own rhythm. June is all about growth and tending to your plants, July about harvesting and watering during the heat, and August about bringing in the harvest whilst looking ahead to autumn. Whether you’re working in a vegetable garden, an ornamental garden or an orchard, with the right timing and the right tools, you’ll get the most out of the season. Below, you’ll find a month-by-month guide to the most important tasks.

Summer gardening tips: June – Growth, flowering and the first harvest

June is the month of abundance. Everything is growing, blooming and spilling over its own boundaries. The main concern is keeping up with this luxuriance – not to curb it, but to guide it. The grass is now growing at its fastest. Mow regularly, but not too short: a height of five to seven centimetres keeps the soil moist and prevents it from drying out on hot days. A neat edge along the borders immediately lends the whole garden a sense of calm. A grass edger is indispensable for this. And water early in the morning, so that the plants start the day with their cells full and the foliage doesn’t get scorched in the midday sun.

June is also the perfect time to keep weeds under control before they go to seed. Taking action now will save you months of work. The soil is still moist enough to pull up roots completely in one go. And don’t forget your roses: cutting off wilted flowers – known as deadheading – encourages new blooms. Use sharp secateurs to cut just above a leaf axil. Sharp tools are no luxury here; they protect the plant from ragged cuts.

• Digging up flower bulbs: Use the digging spade/bulb spade to remove bulbs that have finished flowering without causing any damage.
• Filling in summer borders: Plant summer-flowering plants using a hand bulb planter or a trowel.
• Weed control: Use the hoe or weeding fork to clear weeds between plants.
• Divide perennials: Divide plants such as irises using the plant spade.
• First potato harvest: Use the potato harvesting fork to carefully harvest the tubers.
• Composting: Start a new layer using the compost fork.

Do you want to keep your tools in top condition during the summer months? Take a look at our maintenance tips for garden tools.

Recommended gardening tools

Summer gardening tips: July – The peak season, harvesting and summer pruning

July is the hottest month and the most demanding for the garden. It’s also the most beautiful: if you’ve looked after your garden properly, you’ll now literally be reaping the rewards. If you have a vegetable garden, you’ll be harvesting almost every day in July. Courgettes, beans, lettuce, tomatoes and herbs need to be picked regularly, not just for eating but also to keep the plants productive. A week without rain can quickly deplete the garden, so check the soil moisture near the roots every day. Note: the surface may look dry whilst the soil deeper down still contains sufficient moisture, or vice versa. So, feel the soil with your fingers before reaching for the watering can. Mulch around your plants retains moisture and saves you a lot of watering. Use a leaf rake to spread the mulch evenly over the soil.

July is also the time for summer pruning of apple and pear trees. Removing excess shoots gives the fruit more light and space. It may seem counterintuitive to prune in summer, but it allows the tree to rest and ensures a better harvest. Tall perennials that are in danger of falling over can be supported with stakes or ring stakes. And if you regularly work through your borders with a hoe, you’ll keep the soil loose and aerated, which is good for root growth and moisture uptake.

• Harvesting: Garlic, onions, carrots and beetroot are ready. Use a carrot puller or fork to harvest them without damaging them.
• Picking vegetables and herbs: A small garden knife keeps your harvest looking neat. The handmade Tina knife, crafted from top-quality German steel, is a real workhorse for this task.
• Plant winter vegetables: Leeks, kale and cauliflower can still be planted. Use a planting trowel.
• Weeding during a drought: Pull weeds out by the roots using a Koninklijke hand hoe or beet hoe.
• Water retention: Hoe regularly and mulch around plants that need plenty of water.

And don’t forget the most important task of July: enjoying yourself. A chair in the shade, children running through the garden, the smell of freshly mown grass. That’s what a Sneeboer garden is made for. Tip: do read our article on lawn aeration for a lush green lawn in the heat.

Summer gardening tips: August – Harvesting and looking ahead

There is something ambiguous about August. On the one hand, summer is still in full swing, with ripe sunflowers, lush borders and warm evenings. On the other hand, nature is already tentatively heralding the new season. For the observant gardener, August is the month of both harvesting and preparing. Let your most beautiful flowers flower through to seed. Poppies, nigella and many perennials shed their seeds easily: catch them in a piece of paper and store them in a cool, dry place. Next year, you can start with your own seeds, choosing the varieties that thrive best in your garden.

August is also the month to sow for the future. You can already plant spinach, turnip greens and other autumn vegetables in the ground now. The soil is still warm and the seeds will germinate easily, so that you can harvest a second crop from your own garden in the autumn. Prepare a fine seedbed with a rake, scatter the seeds and press the soil down lightly. A few weeks later, the garden will take care of itself.

It’s also the best time to take cuttings from geraniums, fuchsias and other perennial plants that you want to save from the first frost. Sturdy tools will help you cut healthy cuttings without bruising them; the Tina knife comes in handy here too. And after the summer heat, your lawn may have some dried-out patches. At the end of August, when temperatures drop and the rain returns, is the ideal time to reseed bare patches. Lightly loosen the soil, scatter the grass seed and press it down for the best results.

• Removing plants that have finished flowering: Use a transplanting spade to do the job neatly.
• Planting biennials: You can now plant foxgloves and forget-me-nots using a small trowel.
• Keeping patios and paths clean: You can tackle moss and algae on paving slabs with the Joint Scraper for narrow joints.
• Improving drainage: Use the drainage spade to break up hard soil.
• Sowing for autumn: Sow spinach and turnip greens in a well-prepared seedbed for a second harvest.
• Collecting seeds: Cut back annuals that have finished flowering using sharp secateurs.

More summer gardening tips from Sneeboer

Do you want to enjoy successful gardening all year round? Take a look at these practical articles too:

• Spring gardening tips: what you sow now, you’ll harvest later
• Moving perennials for a healthy winter garden
• Maintaining your tools: how to keep them in top condition for years to come
• Aerating the lawn after a dry summer

Work with tools that will last for generations

What all these summer jobs have in common is that they require tools you can rely on. Not just good for a single use, but year after year. Arie Sneeboer started out with the conviction that things could be better: garden tools that aren’t worn out after a single season, but are passed down from parent to child. That philosophy is embedded in every piece we’ve made since 1913. Forged stainless steel, top-quality ash wood handles and a balance in the hand that you recognise the moment you pick it up. With these summer gardening tips and the right tools, gardening becomes even more enjoyable. Visit our online shop or plan a visit to our workshop in Bovenkarspel.

Do you have any questions or would you like some personalised advice? Please get in touch – we’d be happy to help. You look after your garden, and we’ll take care of the rest.