Natural gardening in July: How to manage succession and pond ecology

Key points in brief

• Control succession (the natural progression of plant communities) by selectively removing woody seedlings such as the Common Ash (Fraxinus excelsior).
• Wildflower meadows are in a state of dynamic change in July; species that have finished flowering are replaced by late-blooming varieties.
• Deadwood in shaded areas promotes decomposition by fungi and beetles, while also helping to retain moisture.
• Pond maintenance in July requires reducing algae to stabilise the nutrient balance in newer bodies of water.

Dynamics in the garden: Why July is a turning point

For a natural garden, July marks a phase of high biological activity. While the first wave of spring blooms has passed, the species spectrum in the wildflower meadow shifts. From an ecological perspective, this is not a period of rest, but a time of consolidation and reproduction for many insect species. Your role as a gardener is to observe this system and intervene where natural succession—the uncontrolled progression towards woodland—threatens to crowd out open habitats too quickly.

Expert guidance: Managing succession and nutrients

Woody plant management: The Common Ash (Fraxinus excelsior)

When woody plants establish themselves unchecked in open meadow areas, light and habitat for sun-loving herbaceous plants diminish. The Common Ash (Fraxinus excelsior) often produces numerous seedlings. Remove these early, including the roots, to maintain the open-land structures of your garden in the long term.

Pond ecology: Algal growth as an indicator

In new ponds, increased algal growth in midsummer is a physiological consequence of an as-yet unstable nutrient ratio. Remove excess algae mechanically. This prevents too much biomass from sinking to the bottom when the algae die off, which would otherwise be decomposed while consuming oxygen.

Table: Tasks for the garden in July

Instructions for July

1. Check your meadow areas for Ash seedlings (Fraxinus excelsior). Remove them consistently before they begin to compete with the herbaceous vegetation.
2. Observe the flora. A biodiverse meadow features different species in July compared to June. The condition of the meadow should only be assessed once the entire growing season has ended.
3. Place deadwood in shaded, damp areas. This serves as a habitat for woodlice (Isopoda) and beetles (Coleoptera), which play a vital role in the decomposition of organic matter.
4. If there is significant algal growth, perform weekly mechanical cleaning of the pond water until the aquatic plants are sufficiently established to bind the nutrients.
5. Avoid any fertilisation or the use of synthetic pesticides to ensure the already fragile balance between succession and stagnation is not destabilised by nutrient input.

Frequently asked questions

Why do I need to remove young Ash trees from my meadow?

The Common Ash (Fraxinus excelsior) would eventually convert open meadow areas into woodland, which would suppress light-dependent plants.

Is it okay to just remove pond algae?

Yes, mechanical removal is beneficial for extracting excess nutrients from the system and protecting the oxygen balance.

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• Pond plants for oxygen: July maintenance in the natural garden
• Maintaining your sandarium: Keeping pioneer sites active in July
• Dragonflies in the natural garden: Optimising your pond as a habitat
• Succession in the natural garden: Why 'tidiness' hinders biodiversity
• Cleaning a garden pond: Step-by-step to nutrient balance