July: Trim Early Season Bloomers
Cut back early-season bloomers, such as delphinium, daisy, and campanula by 1/2 to 1/3. New growth will sprout and a second flowering may occur.…
July: Pinch Back Herbs
Periodically pinch basil if you don’t harvest it weekly. Pinching keeps it from flowering and ensure you have a full, bushy-looking plant. Mint, oregano, and savory can also be pinched to promote bushier growth.
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July: Keep Up with Weeding
Pull weeds as they grow and use mulch in your flower beds to prevent them from sprouting. If you can’t pull them all, at least cut off their tops to prevent them from seeding; this will mean fewer weeds next…
July: Propagate Shrubs with Cuttings
Take softwood cuttings of shrubs such as buddleia, weigela, rose-of-sharon and roses. Place them in pots of moist sand or potting soil, then cover them with a plastic bag, glass jar or large plastic pop bottle, creating a mini-greenhouse. When…
July: Groom Tomato Plants
Continue to pinch out, or cut off, side shoots from tall growing (indeterminate) tomatoes. It’s not necessary to remove them from bush type tomatoes.…
July: Flopping Perennials
Some late spring/early summer perennials such as golden marguerite, some shasta daisies and artemisia ‘flop open’ or lay down. Cut them down to the crown when the bloom period is over. If this action is done early enough in the…
July: Picking Peas and Beans
Use two hands or a pair of secateurs when picking peas and beans. The top should come off with the bean/pea rather than being left on the plant. Pulling the beans/peas off with one hand will often result in breaking…
Late July: Feeding Roses
Don’t feed your roses after the end of July so that the growth can slow down before the weather turns cold.…
July: Crusted Soil
Heavy summer rains can cause bare garden soil to form a crust. Lightly scratch the soil with a long-handled cultivator to loosen the soil and allow air and moisture to penetrate. Mulch can become matted and should be loosened as…
July: Moisture + Heat
The combination of lots of moisture followed by heat will cause weed and flower seeds to germinate quickly and prolifically. Pull the weeds and unwanted seedlings when they appear. The garden will look tidier for your effort and the unwanted…
