July Garden Chores

July Garden ChoresBy following this checklist, you can ensure that your garden is healthy, thriving, and producing an abundance of beautiful and tasty plants throughout the growing season.

Flower Beds, Trees and Shrubs

  • Lightly fertilize your flower beds to encourage their growth.
  • Bulbs that can be planted in the middle of the summer include gladiolus and butterfly lily.
  • As long as they stay moist, you can plant annuals such as coleus, ornamental pepper, and crossandra.
  • Remove any dead flowers on your plants to encourage new growth.
  • Prune your shrubs and trees if it is necessary. Do not heavily prune your spring-flowering shrubs.
  • Remove any dead or diseased plants from your garden immediately. You can replace them with new plants.
  • Do not neglect your container plants; they need more water than those plants in the ground.

Kitchen Garden

  • Be sure to harvest your fruit and vegetables continuously before any animals can get to them.
  • Plant a pumpkin for Halloween!
  • Start planning for your fall garden. Consider which crops you’d like to grow and when to start seeds indoors for a timely planting.

Lawn

  • Continue to mow your lawn regularly, keeping the grass at the recommended height for your grass type. In Zone 7b, this is usually around 2.5 to 3.5 inches for warm-season grasses like Bermuda, Zoysia, and St. Augustine.
  • Water your lawn early in the morning to minimize water evaporation and allow the grass blades to dry before evening, reducing the risk of disease.
  • If weeds are present, consider spot-treating them with a suitable herbicide. Make sure to follow the instructions carefully and avoid application during hot weather.
  • If you have warm-season grasses like Bermuda or Zoysia, this is a good time for a summer feeding. Use a slow-release fertilizer to provide nutrients gradually over the season.
  • Take time to relax and enjoy your well-maintained lawn. It’s a great place to spend summer evenings!

Weeds

  • Continue to stay on top of weeds and not letting them go to seed.
  • Utilize companion planting strategies to help suppress weed growth. For example, planting ground covers or densely spaced crops can help smother weeds.

Other tips

  • Start planning your fall garden.
  • Keep a garden journal to note planting dates, varieties, successes, and challenges for future reference.
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