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JULY
GARDEN GROW? How does your Anna Taylor, from Anna’s Flower Farm in Audley End, shares what’s going on in the garden
I ’ve just been reading one of the first gardening books I ever bought myself: The Weekend Gardener by Monty Don. Here, he recommends gardening tasks and a list of monthly jobs. For July, he writes: ‘Essential, eat outside once a week; desirable, eat outside at least once a day; and optional, eat every meal outside.’ I laughed! That’s the only strictly non-garden task to be found in this slim book, but it’s a real insight as to what Monty considers a garden ‘job’. To be outside and enjoy the fruits of his labour in all circumstances. This June, we didn’t get much of that opportunity with changeable weather, cool and often wet. Now summer has arrived and I hope, like me, you will take advantage by making up for lost time. We ought not to have our heads in the borders, but up towards them. Which made me think, if we want to be spending our time relaxing this month, what can we do to reduce the maintenance of repetitive jobs, allowing time to smell the flowers, eat those juicy strawberries and peas straight off the vine? Here are my top tips for designing your outdoor space to ensure maximum summer chilling from your chair, lounger or hammock. Never have any bare soil : Plant thickly or – failing that – sow and throw green manure seeds for filler flowers and cover the ground for you. They will enrich, improve the structure and draw water up. Stop weeding : Permission granted – enjoy the flowers. The weeds are shading the soil and keeping roots covered anyhow. Reduce watering : Do this for the vital pots, tomatoes and anything that needs it. Encourage plants to send roots deep into the soil to find ground water. I only water annuals once a week if it’s hot and hasn’t rained. If you must, install drip tape around the base of plants and water overnight. Leave the lawn long : Raise your mower blade so the grass is longer; even better, take the collector off and leave the clippings as a mulch. I also love mowing paths to make meadow areas for late- summer flowers and seeds. Feed your plants: Once a month, spray some liquid feed onto your leaves. I use seaweed or comfrey.
© ANNA TAYLOR
GO ALFRESCO Channel Monty Don and eat outside as much as you can this month
Right plant for the right place : If a plant is struggling, move it (though wait until autumn); but why grow that which doesn’t enjoy your conditions? This adds so much work when the garden could be filled with thriving plants that do – and much less effort on your part. Only do what you love to do: If you love weeding, weed the weeds, ignore the edging. Some people find flow by cutting the grass instead. A garden looks instantly better once framed with beautiful lines. I always notice when the terrace and bark paths are clear of self-sown stowaways. These tips all combine with the elements of organic growing, filling spaces with multiple varieties of plants – a gentle hand assisting nature rather than trying to control. There is something to take and apply to all areas of life. I need reminding that retracting with rest and relaxation is just as important as the counter forward movement, effort and work. Lay back and stare at the clouds, think about what you like doing and steer your garden towards that. If there are gaps in beds, lawns too big or scented plants missing (essential), a view that needs a seat or framing: note it down. Come autumn, you can start working these ideas in. In the meantime, I wish you a beautiful July eating in your garden.
Anna grows cut flowers for buckets, events or weddings on Anna’s Flower Farm, Audley End, Saffron Walden. She also teaches and designs gardens and planting schemes from her studio in the plots. Read her Substack Floral Notes for more growing, or book her Grow Your Own Cut Flowers course at annasflowerfarm.co.uk ABOUT ANNA
82 JULY 2024 CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK
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