What's On The Agenda?

Things you could or should be doing in your garden in…

… July

The heat of summer is upon us; adequate watering is extremely important as we hit the ‘Dog Days’ of summer. This expression refers to Sirius, the Dog Star, rising with the sun each day during July.

Mow regularly so that you cut no more than 1/3 of the grass blade at any one time. Bermuda grass may need to be cut every 5 days if it has been fertilized at a high rate.

Raise your mower blade as the temperatures increase to put less stress on your grass.

When irrigating lawns, early morning (4-8am) is best; it is better to water deeply and irregularly, which encourages deep rooting, than every other day for just 10 minutes. Wait to water until the lawn begins to show stress; you’ll be able to see your footprints when you walk across the lawn.

Control broadleaf weeds in lawns with an appropriate post-emergent herbicide.

Finish all azalea pruning and fertilizing by July 4th.

As crepe myrtle flowers fade and seed pods form, pinch them off to encourage new blooms.

If growing hybrid tea roses, use fungicide sprays to control black spot or plant a disease-resistant shrub rose and forget about spraying.

Tomatoes should be at their best; water regularly and pick often.

Sow annual seeds of zinnias, cosmos and cleome for late summer blooms.

If some annuals, such as impatiens, have grown tall and spindly, cut them back by half, fertilize and watch them grow.

Deadhead, deadhead, deadhead to keep those flowers coming.

Make notes in your garden journal which annuals and perennials are performing best during the heat of summer.