July tends to be hot, dry, sunny and most of that spring moisture has left the soil surface so that plants are having to find water deeper down. If you have planted anything this year, then your plants may need a little extra help to get established, so don’t forget to water and feed if necessary. A thorough soaking as opposed to little and often is always best as the water permeates deeper into the soil encouraging the roots to follow – the deeper you can encourage those roots to go the less watering you will have to do in the long run.

Limonium platyphyllum, more commonly known as Sea Lavender is a clump-forming perennial boasting attractive sprays of tiny papery light purple flowers in summer. Blooming in a cloud, they add a soft haze and airy touch in the garden. They are borne on slender and multi-branched stems which rise from a basal rosette of large, broadly spoon-shaped leaves approximately 15 - 25cm long.

Limonium’s dry, papery petals retain their color well, making them an excellent choice for fresh cut flowers or dried arrangements. Attractive to bees, butteries and other pollinators, Sea lavender is a relatively easy perennial to cultivate, with few cultural needs. It is a suitable choice for gravel plantings, especially in dry, hot, windy coastal gardens. Its billowing flowers also help soften a corner, edge, retaining wall, or rocky slope.

Limonium is native to southeastern and central Europe and has a genus of about 120 species and is commonly known as Misty or Statice. The name was derived from a Greek word ‘leimon’ which translate as Meadow. Plants were often found growing in a meadow and its also often found near the sea too, hence the name sea lavender.

It will grow up 60-70cm tall and wide and typically self-seeds. It is easy to grow, performs best in full sun in average well-drained soils and is drought tolerant once established. Its a welcomed addition to cottage gardens, coastal gardens or rock gardens, it’s virtually pest and disease free and can easily be propagated by seed in pots outdoors in spring.

One of my top 10 plants, I often use Limonium as an edging plant in combination with small grasses like Pennisetum orientale and Stipa tenuissima. The combination of texture between the grass and the airy flowers of the Limonium provide a meadow like quality and if you are looking for a plant that fits any style of planting then Limonium may just be that plant for you too. Add some Catanache, Erigeron and Salvia Carradonna and you have something really quite special that will provide colour and interest all summer long.

Jobs to be Done this month:
Ornamental Garden:
• Continue to deadhead herbaceous perennials and roses as flowers go over.
• Weed!!!
• Continue to edge borders.
• Cutback oriental poppies once flowered.
• Divide bearded irises if flowering is declining – re plant the youngest rhizomes.
• Deadhead roses.
• Trim evergreen hedges.
• Turn compost heaps.
• Cut back spent flowers of climbing hydrangea.
• Feed dahlias / cannas etc.
• Take cuttings of clematis.
• Sow biennials.

Vegetable Garden:
• Thin dessert apples and cooking apples.
• Sow spring cabbages and plant out winter cabbages.
• Water courgettes consistently to encourage a good crop.
• Mulch long term crops like brassicas
• Water fruit trees / bushes.