RHS Hampton Court Garden Festival 2025
- clairecharrie
- Jul 22
- 8 min read
Our second show allotment garden, Give Pain the Boot, was a real success and widely admired by the visitors to the show, particularly the glasshouse and boots. We had some very interesting discussions about the plants in the garden, which were chosen for their healing abilities in tackling chronic inflammation. There is a plant list for the allotment show garden available on our website – this is not an exhaustive list – we wanted to show a variety of vegetables, herbs, tropical plants and flowers to excite and educate.
We are currently in the process of relocating all the plants back in the community healing garden.
On 26th November we are giving a talk at the Cookham Horticulture Society on building a show garden at 7.30pm - if you want to know more please do come along. In the meantime, you can view videos of the garden by following us on Instagram: natures.haven.garden
Here are some photos of the build . . .
Things to Do in the Garden in July
July is both a rewarding and demanding month in the garden. It’s a time for nurturing growth, harvesting the fruits of your labour, supporting wildlife and, perhaps most importantly, savouring the tranquil beauty of long, light-filled days. With care and creativity, your garden will flourish throughout the height of summer and beyond. So, roll up your sleeves, grab your sunhat and secateurs, and let July’s gentle abundance inspire you.
Here’s a guide to the essential and inspirational gardening jobs to tackle this month.
1. Watering Wisely
Water is the lifeblood of the July garden, but it must be given with care and consideration. As temperatures rise, plants are especially prone to drying out, and efficient watering is key.
Early Morning or Evening Watering: Avoid watering during the heat of the day, as much of it will evaporate before it reaches the roots.
Target the Roots: Focus water at the roots rather than the leaves to minimise evaporation and prevent disease.
Mulch, Mulch, Mulch: Apply a generous layer of organic mulch—such as chipped bark, straw, or compost—around plants to retain moisture and suppress weeds.
Remember Pots & Containers: These dry out rapidly, so check daily and water as needed.
2. Deadheading and Pruning
July is the moment for encouraging repeat flowering and neatening exuberant growth.
Deadhead Roses and Perennials: Snip off faded flowers on roses, bedding plants, dahlias, cosmos, and sweet peas to encourage a second flush of blooms.
Trim Lavender: Once your lavender has finished flowering, lightly trim back the spent flower spikes, but avoid cutting into old wood.
Prune Wisteria: Shorten this year’s whippy shoots to around 20cm to control growth and encourage flower bud development for next year.
3. Feeding & Harvesting for Abundance
As plants pour their energy into flowering and fruiting, they’ll need regular feeding.
Feed Containers and Hanging Baskets: Use a balanced liquid feed every week to support lush growth and strong flowering.
Fruit and Veg Boost: Tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, and courgettes all benefit from high-potash fertiliser while they’re cropping.
Mulch Fruit Bushes: Around soft fruit like strawberries and raspberries, add organic matter to retain moisture and provide slow-release nutrients.
July brings generous harvests and regular picking encourages more to come. The wildlife will also be interested in harvesting your produce for themselves, please share with them. We are convinced that one day we will get to the cherries before the birds do!
4. Sowing for Succession
Just because summer is in full swing doesn’t mean it’s too late to sow.
Lettuce and Salad Leaves: Sow 'cut and come again' varieties every couple of weeks for a steady supply.
Spring Onions, Radishes, and Beetroot: These fast-growing crops can still be sown now for late summer and autumn harvests.
Biennials and Winter Crops: Sow foxgloves, wallflowers, and honesty for next year’s display, and start winter cabbage, kale, and sprouting broccoli under cover.
5. Pest and Disease Patrol
Warm weather encourages growth but also disease and garden pests.
Check for Aphids and Caterpillars: Inspect roses and brassicas for infestations. Remove by hand or use an organic spray if necessary.
Watch for Fungal Diseases: Black spot, powdery mildew, and blight can strike quickly. Remove affected foliage and improve air circulation. DO NOT put these cuttings in the compost or you will spread disease – ideally burn them or take to the rubbish dump.
Slug and Snail Vigilance: Protect vulnerable seedlings, particularly after rain, by either using barriers, picking off the little blighters or there is always the beer trap method . . . apparently they love Guinness!
6. Lawns: Love and Care
Lawns can suffer in summer, but a little attention keeps them looking lush.
Mow Regularly, But Not Too Short: Raise the mower blades to avoid scalping and help the lawn cope with heat.
Edge for Neatness: Cut clean lawn edges with a half-moon edging tool for a sharp finish.
If you need to water the lawn why not try using ‘grey water’ to conserve vital water resources.
7. Wildlife Watch
Your garden is a sanctuary not just for you, but for wildlife too.
Top Up Bird Baths and Ponds: Birds, hedgehogs, bees, and other creatures all need access to clean water during hot spells.
Leave Some Weeds: Wild corners and flowering weeds provide food and shelter for pollinators.
Avoid Pesticides: Encouraging natural predators is better for biodiversity and helps keep pests in check.
9. Greenhouse and Conservatory Care
If you’re lucky enough to have one, July is a bustling time under glass.
Ventilate Well: Open doors and vents during the day to keep temperatures down.
Damp Down Floors: This increases humidity and deters red spider mite.
Shade Delicate Plants: Use shading material or old net curtains to protect from scorching sun.
10. Plan and Dream Ahead
Great gardens are made not just by tending the present, but by planning for the future.
Order Spring Bulbs: Catalogues are out now—order daffodils, tulips, and alliums for planting in autumn.
Take Notes: Observe what’s thriving and what needs moving for next year’s display.
Take Photos: Capture inspiration, record successes and lessons, and share your garden’s glory with friends or on social media.
Why not try creating a Healing Corner: Inspired by the RHS Hampton Court Garden Festival, try dedicating a patch to plants with reputed anti-inflammatory properties, such as turmeric, ginger, echinacea, and chamomile.
More Summer Bee News
Well what a different spring and summer we’ve had so far compared to last year! A huge positive difference has been the number of bumblebees I’ve seen. While it’s not necessarily an indication of things nationally, locally it’s been great. In our garden at the moment we have towering spires of pink hollyhocks (I love hollyhocks!) that are covered in bumbles. It’s such a delight when I leave the house for the day. And late in the evening we often see some of the bumblebees asleep in the flowers. These are often males. As their only role in their short lives is mating, they tend to be kicked out of the nest to survive on their own and you can sometimes see them dozing in flower heads.
Another joy we’ve seen recently is the long garden at Cliveden National Trust. Previously they had bedding plants they changed annually, but these have been taken out and replaced with a swathe of pollinator friendly perennials. I’ve never seen so many bumblebees! And wasps, hoverflies, butterflies, beetles, flies….. While the wonderful bee might be our best pollinator, it’s certainly not the only one, and lots of other insects provide this vital service too. So if you need any inspiration of what to plant in your nature friendly garden, I highly recommend a visit up to Cliveden! Especially popular were the nepeta (cat mint), scabious and salvia; and fennel is great for other insects. We saw lots of new queen bumblebees (so big!) as this is the time a nest will start to produce queens and males to start the life cycle for next year.
Another interesting spot in the long garden was the wool carder bee (Anthidium manicatum). They can often be easily spotted as they have a zippy, hovering flight pattern and are often found near lamb’s ears plants (Stachys byzantina). The reason they are often seen around this plant is that the females collect the furry fibres from the leaves and use them to make individual nest cells. However, today we spotted a male patrolling around a patch of ‘Grecian foxgloves’. On investigation, these leaves have a furry surface (remember all foxgloves are toxic!) and so will be used in the same way as the lamb’s ears plant. The males are fiercely territorial and will patrol such patches and defend them from other bees and flies. No male bees ever have stingers, but male wool carder bees have five spikes on their bottom which they use to battle with and it can be amusing watching them dive bomb and wrestle bees much larger than themselves.
In this hot dry weather we’re having, keeping your pollinator friendly plants well watered means they can continue producing good quality pollen and nectar for the bees. Read up about grey water in the garden to keep water use to a minimum. Also handy for the honeybees and other insects is a shallow dish of water with a few pebbles in it, so they can access a drink without drowning.
Enjoy your summer bees. I recommend sitting down and mindfully watching them going about their business - you never know what you might spot.
Fancy a Smoothie?
Smoothies offer a convenient and delicious way to increase your intake of fruits, vegetables, and other nutrients. They can be a good source of vitamins, minerals, and fiber, and can also help with hydration and energy levels. An excellent way to utilize a glut of fruit, you can easily combine various fruits, even those that might be slightly past their prime, into a blended beverage.
How to Customize a Smoothie
Make it green: Add a handful of spinach or kale or avocado for added nutrients
Make it sweeter: Add more banana or a touch of honey or maple syrup
Make it creamier: Add more yogurt, milk or add a scoop of nut butter such as almond butter or peanut butter.
Add more fruit: Try adding a mix berries, mango, or pineapple. Frozen fruit gives a nice thick texture.
Make it a smoothie bowl: Simply reduce the amount of liquid in the recipe, blend and then pour into a bowl. Top with fresh fruit, granola, nuts or seeds.
____________
Easy Recipes . . .
Apple & Berry Smoothie
Mix up this high-protein fruit smoothie, with oats and almonds, for a fibre-filled start to the day.
Ingredients
300g frozen mixed berries
1 apple, cored and sliced
200ml milk
150g natural yoghurt
25g porridge oats
10g flakes almonds
Method
Place the berries, apple, milk, yoghurt, oats and nuts in a blender and blend until smooth.
Add 75-100ml cold water, a little at a time, to achieve a smooth consistency and blend again.
Pour into glasses and serve.
____________
Protein Shake
Whip up this high protein smoothie for a post-workout tonic or breakfast on the run.
Ingredients
150g Greek yoghurt
100g berries or soft ripe fruit (apricot / peach…) of your choice
175ml almond milk
1 tsp honey
100g silken tofu
15g smooth peanut butter
Method
Place all of the ingredients apart from the peanut butter into a blender and blitz until smooth and combined then add peanut butter & blitz again to combine all ingredients.
Pour the smoothie into the glass and enjoy!
____________
Quick Breakfast Smoothie
Short on time in the mornings?. Make one of these for breakfast and you're good to go.
Ingredients
100g Greek-style yoghurt
1 small banana broken up
175ml milk
pinch ground cinnamon
Method
Put all the ingredients in a food processor and blend until smooth.
Pour into a glass and serve.
Comments