July Gardening Chores

The main challenge this time of year is keeping plants healthy, hydrated and happy! Water is your key to success. Whether you have plants in containers or in the ground applying a good helping of H²O is one of the most important things you can do. There is no easy formula for how much or how often, but we can tell you that 2-3 deep waterings per week is far better than shallow watering every day. Of course, your watering practices will depend on environment, type of soil, type of plant, etc.

Be very careful this time of year when applying pesticides, fungicides and even fertilizer. Heat and drought-stressed plants are more susceptible to damage from these chemicals. If you must apply, make sure your plants have been properly hydrated before applying. It is best to apply any pesticide or fertilizer early in the day. If your plants are stressed from insect or disease, water them thoroughly and apply the chemical the next morning.

If you are trying to attract butterflies, make sure you give them a water source. It is especially important this time of year. Keep your hummingbird feeders clean, if they aren't emptied within 2 or 3 days you will need to discard the left over nectar and replace it with fresh. Your hummers will thank you with many hours of enjoyable feeding!

Lawns:

• Raise the height of your mower. Mow fescue at about a 3-3½" mowing height. Bermuda, which is more drought tolerant can be mowed at a 2½-3" height. Keep your blade sharpened to reduce stress to your lawn.
• Water your lawn if we have had no significant rainfall (and chances are in Oklahoma we haven't this time of year). It is far better to water deep and slow a couple of times a week than to water shallow every day.
• Water early in the morning if possible to reduce the risk of disease development.
• If your lawn is relatively weed free, use your mulching attachment. The grass clippings are actually free fertilizer in the form of nitrogen!
• If you have weeds in your lawn you can apply a pre-emergent. Just be careful not to apply when the wind is blowing and always follow manufacturers recommendations.

Trees & Shrubs:

• Keep newly planted trees & shrubs watered during dry spells.
• Check your mulch...keep 3-4" of mulch around your plants to keep them cool and reduce weed growth.
• If any suckers have appeared, it is ok to cut them back. Just make sure you use clean, sharp pruners.

Flowers:

• Make sure your flower beds have plenty of mulch.
• Continue deadheading annuals for continuous blooming. A shot of all-purpose fertilizer will work wonders this time of year.
• If your annuals are getting leggy, go ahead and cut them back. They should flourish and produce more blooms with proper care.
• Keep a close eye on your containers. They will dry out faster and quicker than those in the ground. Some containers need watered on a daily basis this time of year.
• This month should be the final pinching of your mums before fall. Just don't procrastinate, get it done before the end of July. Your fall mums will flourish with blooms and also be much larger plants.

Miscellaneous:

• Keep a special eye on your vegetable garden. This time of year is usually ripe for the development of disease as well as insect problems. If you do suspect either, be very selective with the type of chemical you use. After all, you are planning on eating the veggies, right?
• Start thinking about your fall garden. Many garden centers are beginning to stock fall crops such as cauliflower, broccoli, and potatoes toward the end of July.
• Make sure the water in bird baths and your pets water dishes are changed often to reduce mosquito larvae from forming. If you have a water feature such as a pond or fountain in your yard, try using mosquito dunks to control mosquito larvae. They are safe for birds and other wildlife.