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July Gardening Tips
The dog days of summer are not far
off. These hot, dry days can wreck havoc on your gardens. Unfortunately,
insects, diseases, and weeds tend to prefer the warm, humid days that
summer delivers. The following are tips that can help you keep your
garden in tip-top shape!
Lawn
-
 Raise
your mowing height! The higher you mow the more vigorous your turf
will be. The more vigorous your turf is, the more it will be able to
withstand drought and compete against weeds.
-
Thinking of an irrigation system? Check with the irrigation
professional associated with the Illinois Green Industry
Association. They can provide you with a system that is
well-designed, and efficient.
Garden
-
Cut
back and dead-head (pinch off spent blooms) annuals and
perennials. If you find your garden is lacking color for the summer
months, stop by your garden center and have their Illinois Certified
Nursery Professional (ICN Pro) show you some summer bloomers that
will add some vibrant color to your garden.
-
Treat your roses for black spot. Hybrid tea roses can be very
susceptible to black spot. What to look for: black spots with a
yellow halo on the leaf. There are several different products that
may be used for the treatment of black spot. Consult your ICN Pro
for recommendations for your area.
-
 Harvest
vegetables, fruits and herbs frequently. Picking encourages the
plants to produce more and it helps to decrease insects and
diseases. Now is also the time to plant more beans, beets, & carrots
for fall harvest.
-
Divide and transplant iris, towards the end of the month.
-
Prune out and destroy old fruiting canes of raspberries after
harvest.
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Harvest onions and garlic when the tops turn brown.
-
Control weeds in your gardens. Weeds like the hot, humid days of
summer. By controlling weeds now you can prevent them from going to
seed and spreading. For advice on controlling weeds in your gardens,
consult your ICN Pro.
-
Water your newly planted trees and shrubs. It is very important to
water thoroughly! Taking a 5-gallon bucket of water out to your new
tree and dumping it on it is NOT watering your tree! For proper
watering techniques and advice on how often to water, contact the
ICN Pro at your local garden center.
-
Blossom–end rot of tomatoes and peppers occurs when soil moisture is
uneven. Water when soils begin to dry; maintain 2-3 inch layer of
mulch.
 Water
Garden
-
On
the hottest days of summer, your water garden can become a cool,
relaxing retreat! In the heat of the summer it is a good idea to
cut back on feeding your fish. It is ok to not feed them at
all. There is plenty of “natural” food for them in the garden
itself. This can also help to reduce algae problems in your pond.
 Native
Landscapes
-
For
those of you who are lucky enough to have a wildflower or prairie
garden, sit back and watch it grow! The prairie will be in its full
glory in July and August - the purple coneflowers, black–eyed susans,
sunflowers and Liatris will be in full bloom soon. This amazing
display of color will attract swarms of butterflies, birds and other
insects! If you think you might be interested in establishing a
pretty patch of prairie on your property, contact the ICN Pro at
your local garden center. They should be able to provide you with a
wealth of information on different establishment techniques.
-
If
you have a new prairie planting, you should mow it back to about
4-6inches. Mowing it back will help to prevent weeds from going to
seed and spreading.
Insect & Disease
-
Spray your evergreens for bagworms. Bagworms MUST be treated when
they are young. There are several products labeled for use against
bagworms. Consult with the ICN Pro at your garden center for their
treatment recommendations.
-
Watch for fall webworms. Fall webworms will form large nests in
trees. The nest will look like oversized cobwebs. Prune out or
remove these nests from your trees. It is generally not necessary to
spray for fall webworm. Note that the damage fall webworm causes
-
Spider mites love hot, dry weather. Keep your eye out for these
little critters. Forceful sprays of water and insecticidal soaps are
effective controls.
Birds
& Butterflies
-
 Keep
your hummingbird feeders filled with FRESH liquid! If possible, hang
your feeder in an area that receives shade in the afternoon.
-
Keep
your birdbaths clean and full! In the heat of the summer, a clean
birdbath can be paradise for our fine, feathered friends!
Don’t
forget that it’s not too late to plant! Your local garden center still
has a nice selection of perennials, shrubs, and trees to choose
from. The
ICN Pro at your garden center can
give you the advice you need to be successful with all your gardens.
More tips...
by Carey
Boehm-Corrie, ICN Pro of the
Year (2003), Boehm's Garden Center,
Rushville, IL
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