Supporting plants
Support the stems of tall perennials and lilies with bamboo canes and watch out for lily beetles and their larvae. Pick any off and destroy them immediately.
Deadheading
Deadhead roses as the blooms fade, cutting off the flowers just above the uppermost leaf on the stem. Trim back lavender bushes after flowering to remove the old blooms and shoot tips. Take care not to cut back too heavily into any old wood. Removing faded flowers from perennials and annual plants will also ensure a continued display of blooms.
Dried flowers
Cut everlasting flowers, such as helichrysum and achillea, and grasses, such as pennisetum, when they are at their peak. Hang them upside down in a warm, airy position to dry naturally, ready for decorative arrangements.
Prune wisteria
Summer prune wisteria this month, shortening their long wispy sideshoots back to about five or six leaves from the main framework. If the plant's flowering performance was poor last spring, drench the soil with a high-potash fertiliser for an improvement