Flower/Landscape Gardens
- Weed and Water! A rule of thumb for watering is 1 inch of water a week if not provided with rain. Purchase a rain gauge to get an accurate measurement and remember to empty the rain gauge regularly!
- Watch for signs of drought stress:
- Wilting
- Blossom and fruit drop
- Upward curling or rolling of leaves
- Yellowing and browning of leaves, particularly along leaf margins and tips
- Yellowing and dropping of inner leaves
- Under-sized and off-flavored fruits, vegetables and nuts
- Under-sized leaves, twig and branch die-back
- Interior needle and leaf drop on conifers and evergreens
- Iron chlorosis symptoms on foliage (leaf yellowing between veins)
- Continue to deadhead perennial flowers and annuals regularly to keep them blooming all summer.
- Deadhead roses regularly to keep them blooming all summer. To prevent boring insects from entering the cut rose branch, apply waterproof wood glue to the cut.
- Feed roses every two weeks to promote vigorously blooming plants.
- Continue watching roses for appearance of black spot. Remove infected leaves regularly (do not add infected leaves to compost).
- Keep staking necessary perennials BEFORE they flop for the best effects and to make maintenance easier as the season progresses.
- Continue training and tying vines and climbing roses.
- Fertilize containers and in-ground annuals weekly with a liquid feed of fish emulsion or liquid seaweed.
- Primp containers when needed by removing any brown leaves and spent flowers to keep them healthy and looking their best.
- Prune container plants that have grown more than anticipated, like coleus, sweet potato vine and other vigorous growers just BEFORE your vacation. Return home to a better balance and a fresh look for the remainder of the summer.
- Order fall planted, spring blooming bulbs.
- On a cooler day when gentle rain is in the forecast, apply compost to your lawn and become the envy of the neighborhood by creating a dense, healthy green lawn- organically!
Vegetable Garden & Fruit Trees
- If you haven’t mulched your vegetable garden already, now is a good time to mulch the rows to help with weed control. Weed thoroughly, and then add shredded bark mulch.
- Mulch helps the soil retain moisture reducing the amount of water that needs to be applied. Mulch maintains even soil temperatures, encourages earthworms, protects crops like tomatoes, cucumbers and squash from rot and improves the soil because it breaks down adding organic matter to the soil.
Call Designs for Greener Gardens at 410-626-6122 to help you with your July garden needs!
