Your summer garden is in full bloom—here’s how to keep it thriving and lush through the heat.
A July garden is a thing of beauty, brimming with color and variety, bathed in the warm summer sun. With the planning and planting done, now is the time to enjoy the fruits of your effort. But to ensure your garden continues to thrive throughout the growing season, it still needs regular care and maintenance.
Helping the Flowers Find Their Sunshine
By July, there’s an abundance of greenery—both planned and unplanned! Everything grows so fast, it’s important to keep up with weeding so that your plants don’t have to compete for water and nutrients. Keeping the ground clear around plants prevents them from getting “leggy” as they stretch for the sunshine.
Make the job easier by weeding when the soil is damp. The weeds put up less of a fight, and you’re more likely to remove the whole root. Keep mulching—this helps retain moisture, suppress weeds, and regulate soil temperature, which is especially beneficial during hot spells.
Give the Plants a Drink!
Aim to water early in the morning or late in the evening to minimize evaporation. Morning watering has the added benefit of allowing leaves to dry during the day, reducing the risk of fungal diseases.
To encourage deeper, stronger roots, water deeply and less frequently rather than shallowly and often. Drip irrigation or soaker hoses are excellent options, delivering water directly to the roots while conserving water.
Check soil moisture before watering—just stick your finger into the soil a couple of inches. If it feels dry, it’s time to water. Keep in mind that sunny and windy days increase evaporation, so you may need to water more frequently or increase the amount.
Harvest Time
July is peak harvest time! Enjoy a delicious bounty of tomatoes, cucumbers, beans, and zucchinis—your chance to elevate your cooking with fresh-picked veggies. Harvest regularly to encourage continuous production.
It’s also time to replant quick-growing crops like lettuce, radishes, and spinach for a continuous harvest. Sow seeds directly outdoors for fall crops like basil, bok choy, beets, carrots, kale, lettuce, spinach, and summer squash. Start others indoors—like broccoli, Brussels sprouts, chard, collards, and kale—for later transplanting.
Happy and Healthy Plants
Keep the party going! Deadhead flowering annuals and perennials to promote more blooms. Stake sprawling or climbing plants to support their growth. Get your garden on a fertilizing schedule using a balanced fertilizer or organic options like compost.
Watch for pests and disease. Remove diseased foliage promptly to prevent spreading infections. Consider companion planting to naturally deter pests and use organic treatments when necessary.
July is also the time to prune climbing roses after flowering. Fertilize roses, annuals, vegetables, and container plants monthly to stretch the growing season. Fertilize chrysanthemums every 2–3 weeks until buds form.
Be a Happy Gardener!
Invest in a wide-brimmed sun hat, high-quality pruning gloves, and good footwear. Remember to stay hydrated, take breaks, and don’t forget to smell the roses as you garden in the July heat!
20 lucky winners will win $500 each in prizes totaling $10,000. 