July in the Garden
Checklist
- Keep height of mower high this month to encourage deeper roots in turf grass.
- Continue to deeply water young trees and shrubs. A raised rim of dirt, or basin, will help trap water and allow slower penetration.
- Deeply water to correct bitter cucumbers and help prevent blossom end rot of tomatoes.
- Regular deep irrigation is superior to frequent watering as it encourages deeper root growth, and is better for drought tolerant plants in the landscape.
- Water container plants more often in the heat
- Move house plants away from hot sunny windows to avoid afternoon burn.
- Feed citrus trees.
- Apply BT to control hornworms on tomatoes, and geranium(tobacco) budworms on petunias.
- Continue to monitor for aphids; remove them with a sharp spray from the hose.
- Control whiteflies with insecticidal soap.
- Trap earwigs under damp cardboard or in damp rolled newspaper.
- Dead-head roses and other flowers.
- Begin Summer pruning of fruit trees this month.
Planting Guide
Vegetables & Herbs
- Directly seed for Brussels sprouts, cabbage, parsnips, cauliflower, broccoli, carrots, rutabaga, and lettuce.
- Transplant seedlings or purchased plants of Brussels sprouts, celery, sweet potatoes, corn, summer and winter squash, cucumbers, beans, melons, and eggplant.
- Harvest shallots, garlic, tomatoes, carrots, potatoes, chard, pepper, eggplant, cucumber, corn, melon, and squash.
Bulbs and Flowers
- Heat-loving annuals such as sweet alyssum, celosia, cosmos, four o’clocks, marigolds, petunias, portulaca, annual salvia, sunflowers, verbena, annual vinca, and zinnias can be planted but will need careful watering and protection from hot afternoon sun.
- Divide irises
Begin looking at catalogs to gather ideas for fall planting.
Yarrow (Achillea millefolium 'Sonoma Coast')
Trees and Shrubs
- Observe summer performance of trees and shrubs that are of interest prior to the Fall planting season.
