July - Embracing the chaos

10 July 2026, by Abbie Jones, Co Head Gardener at Furzey Gardens

Borders spill over pathways, plants seem to grow overnight, and the weeds appear to have entered a competition to see who can reach the sky first. For many gardeners, and garden owners, this is the moment when overwhelm creeps in.

It’s easy to look around and see jobs that need doing. The roses need deadheading, the hedge could do with a trim, the lawn has grown another inch, and those self-seeded plants have appeared exactly where you didn’t plan for them. But before you reach for the secateurs, I encourage you to take a moment to step back and just enjoy it. We must remember that this is the moment we spend the rest of the year working towards. The garden is alive, thriving, and in some cases, a little untidy – and that’s okay! Nature was never intended to be perfectly neat, July reminds us of that.

We have some stand out specimens here at Furzey during the month July;

Catalpa bignonioides ‘Aurea’ – Its huge lime-green leaves create a wonderfully tropical feel, and the white orchid-like flowers are at their best this month.

Astilbe japonica – Its vivid plumes provide one of the strongest bursts of colour in the garden at this time of year, standing out beautifully against Furzey’s lush green backdrop.

Wildflower meadow – Not a single plant, but definitely a July highlight. The meadow is alive with butterflies, bees and other insects, and offers a very different atmosphere from the woodland areas of the garden.

Whilst taking the time to appreciate specimens in your own garden, here’s some advice for the month ahead.

Astilbe japonica bursts into vibrant colour

One of the most rewarding tasks this month is watering. While it can feel like another job on an ever-growing list, there is something wonderfully therapeutic about standing in the garden early in the morning or late in the evening with a watering can or hose. It slows us down. It encourages us to notice things we might otherwise miss – a flower opening for the first time, a visiting butterfly, or a plant quietly struggling and asking for a little extra attention.

Where possible, water deeply rather than little and often. A thorough soak encourages roots to grow deeper into the soil, helping plants become more resilient during dry spells. Newly planted shrubs, containers and hanging baskets will appreciate the extra care, whilst established plants are often tougher than we give them credit for.

Deadheading is another worthwhile job for July. Removing spent flowers from roses and repeat-flowering perennials encourages many plants to continue producing blooms well into late summer. A few minutes here and there can make a surprising difference.

If you’re growing vegetables, keep harvesting regularly. Courgettes have a habit of transforming from perfectly sized vegetables into marrows when your back is turned, and beans will crop more heavily if picked little and often.

Abundant produce in the Cottage Garden

Resist the urge to overwater lawns during dry weather. Grass is remarkably resilient and may turn brown during hot spells, but it will usually recover when rain returns. Allowing lawns to grow a little longer can also help them cope better with summer conditions while providing food for pollinators. A top tip is to increase the height on your mower by ⅓ – ½ an inch, this extra grass will protect the root system and is more likely to stay greener for longer.

Above all, July is a month to appreciate the garden rather than constantly trying to perfect it. There will always be another weed to pull, another plant to stake, another job waiting around the corner. The borders won’t look exactly as you imagined back in February, and that’s often where the magic lies.

So if your garden feels a little wild this month, take comfort in knowing that it is supposed to. Pull a few weeds, water what needs watering, deadhead a handful of flowers and then find somewhere to sit and enjoy it.

At Furzey, July marks a noticeable change in pace and atmosphere. Our spectacular spring display, fuelled by the garden’s naturally acidic, ericaceous soil, is now largely behind us for another year. The rhododendrons and azaleas that painted the garden with colour throughout spring have faded, and the garden settles into gentler shades of green. Whilst some might see this as the end of the show, I often think it’s when the garden reveals a different kind of beauty.

Behind the scenes, our focus has shifted towards rejuvenating some of our older rhododendrons and tackling areas of Rhododendron ponticum that have gradually become overgrown. It can sometimes feel counterintuitive to cut back large, established plants, particularly when you’ve spent years watching them grow, but good gardening isn’t always about what we add. Sometimes it’s about creating space.

By opening up these areas, we’re allowing more light into the garden and preparing space for a wider variety of plants that we’ll be introducing later in the autumn. Whilst the results may not be immediate, this work lays the foundations for a more diverse, resilient and interesting garden for years to come.

In fact, we’ve already started talking with our supported gardeners about what they’d like to see introduced into these newly opened spaces. One supported gardener, Matt, suggested a hot tub, which certainly wasn’t a recommendation I was expecting! It’s been wonderful hearing everyone’s thoughts and encouraging them to help shape the future of the garden.

In many ways, this work mirrors the message of July. Whilst the garden is overflowing with growth and colour, we’re already thinking ahead, making thoughtful decisions about what comes next. Gardening teaches us that growth isn’t always about adding more. Sometimes the healthiest thing we can do is create space for something new to flourish.

Dahlias bringing colour to our summer borders

July brings the return of the school holidays, excited little legs and big smiles to the gardens. Galactic Furzey’s curious creatures and strange portals are hiding around the gardens, awaiting the brave space explorers to discover them. Trail maps, crayons and explorer badge are £3.50. Pre-booking your visit is essential in school holidays – please help us manage our parking capacity!

As the sun sets on the gardens, our magical outdoor theatre evenings return. With a sold-out show, the Handlebards perform Macbeth and then everyone’s favourite New Forest Open Air Theatre return with a run of over 25 nights of comedy, live music and mistaken identity. Catch them at the gardens from 25 July – 17 August.

Galactic Furzey

This article originally appeared as the monthly In The Garden column in the Lymington Times, buy the paper on the second Friday of every month to read the next column first.