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July Garden Calendar

July is usually our hottest month and many gardening activities become maintaining, weeding, and even harvesting. However, you can still direct seed zinnias in early July. They like the ground warm before emerging, and, it’s fun to see how fast they show up – you’ll have a fresh bloom of flowers in the fall when other annuals are looking weary.

Trees

If we don’t get enough rainfall, be sure to deeply water your trees.
Check the top and outer leaves of trees and shrubs for drought injury.
Pine needles turning brown on the part of the branch closest to the trunk is normal; but look for browning on the tip of the branch. It’s a sign the tree is in trouble.

Lawns

July is a good time to apply fertilizer to your lawn. We use Pro-Rich, which is naturally based and does not have an herbicide for broad leafed weeds (which has been linked to cancer in dogs).
Apply, or reapply mulch; it helps prevent soil compaction, retain moisture and keeps the soil cooler.
Mow lawns as often as needed keeping grass height between 2 ½ and 3 inches.

Pruning

Pinching, pruning and shaping is the motto of the July garden.
Prune arborvitae, junipers and boxwood once new growth has emerged and expanded the shape of the plant. When pruning, shape shrubs so light can reach all parts of the plant. It is important to do this chore in July or early August, so the plants have enough time to put on new growth before the first hard freeze.
STOP pinching fall blooming perennials such as asters and chrysanthemums.
But DO dead head your flowering plants, it will increase flower production.

Flowers

Now that it is hot and we water so often, we fertilize on a weekly basis. The exception being hanging baskets and containers where we fertilize every 2-4 watering’s.

Cut back delphinium and perennial salvia to encourage a second bloom.
Fertilize hybrid tea and standard roses. Remove faded flowers to encourage new blooms. Cut the stem of single flowering roses back to the first 5-leaflet leaf. Prune climbing roses after flowering
Pinch back or disbud dahlias for larger flowers. Remove at least two pair of side buds below the top bud.
Dig and divide: bearded iris and spring blooming poppies. Divide all iris that are crowded and discard old, large or diseased rhizomes
Keep deadheading annuals and perennials to keep the garden neat and flowers blooming.

Vegetables

The more you are watering, the more often you need to be fertilizing.

There is still time to get starts in the ground or replace any plants you may need to.
Tomatoes need consistent watering to prevent blossom end rot and misshapen fruit.
Harvest zucchini when the fruits are 6 to 8″ long. They are at their best at that size.
Replant leaf lettuce and sow seeds of sugar snap peas for a fall harvest.

Diseases and Pests
Control pests using the least toxic measure possible, we carry products that will not hurt humans or animals.
Watch for powdery mildew on garden phlox, roses, squash, etc. Proper pruning will increase air circulation and help prevent powdery mildew, but if you notice it on the plant use a fungicide containing sulphur as a safe and environmentally friendly way to control the disease.

Tomato hornworms and other caterpillars can be easily controlled using Bacillus thurgensis (a bacteria that infects caterpillars, mosquitos, and fungus gnats), which is a biological control. It is also the main ingredient in Mosquito dunks.

Nolo Bait (Nosema locustae) is a microfungi that only infects grasshoppers and certain cricket species.

Check Alberta Spruce and juniper for a sprawling white web; it’s a sign of spider mites. A strong spray of Neem oil will get rid of them.
Insecticidal soap is effective controlling aphids, mealy bugs, and many other soft bodied insects
Both Neem Oil and Insecticidal Soap will help control the massive invasion of Elm Seed Beetles. They are a nuisance pest and only feed on elm seeds, but they will take over your home inside and out, if you do not take immediate action.