Garden Tasks for July

In July, there are several garden tasks that you can do to keep your garden healthy and thriving. Here are some tasks that you can consider:

1. Watering: With the summer heat, it is important to water your plants regularly. Make sure to water deeply and less frequently rather than shallowly and frequently.
2. Pruning: Prune your plants to remove any dead or diseased branches. This will help promote healthy growth and prevent the spread of disease.
3. Fertilizing: Apply fertilizer to your plants to provide them with the necessary nutrients for growth. Use a balanced fertilizer that contains nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium.
4. Weeding: Remove any weeds that are growing in your garden. Weeds can compete with your plants for water and nutrients.
5. Harvesting: If you have any fruits or vegetables growing in your garden, make sure to harvest them regularly. This will encourage more growth and prevent over-ripening.
6. Mulching: Apply a layer of mulch around your plants to help retain moisture in the soil and prevent weed growth.
7. Pest control: Keep an eye out for any pests that may be damaging your plants. Use natural methods or pesticides to control them.
8. Shading:  This is critical as the temperatures heat up in the late afternoons.  There are several ways to do this, you can plant larger plants that enjoy the late afternoon heat on the West side of plants that need shade from the late afternoon sun.  You can use shade or frost cloth to protect your plants.  Whatever you chose to do to shade your plants you want to have them ready to use in July, August, and September.
9. This is a good time to plant succession plantings to extend your season.
10. If you have a way to start seeds for crops that will be harvested in the Fall the end of July is a great time to plant them.
11. Your flowers should be in full bloom to take cuttings from for enjoyment indoors.
12. Take notes and pictures of your garden to help you see results and to help you plan out your garden for next year.
13. You may have an abundance of vegetables and fruit from your garden so this is a great time to preserve some of those for next winter to enjoy them when crops have died off.
14. Plan your meals based on all the vegetables that you are harvesting, if you do not have a recipe for some of the vegetables, herbs, and fruit you are growing look at some of my favorites that I have posted.
15. Share some of your bounty with family and friends.
16. Take notes on your favorite vegetables, herbs, and fruit that you or your friends have grown to grow next year.
17. Make a list of the seeds you want to collect from your garden this year and start to collect them for next year’s planting.
18. Garden tasks for July that are essential are walking through your garden daily, I usually pick the morning to see what is happening in my garden to determine the tasks of the day and week.  It is also one of the most relaxing ways to start your day.

By following these garden tasks for July, you can ensure that your garden stays healthy and productive throughout the summer months.

I hope that you are enjoying a bountiful harvest now that summer has kicked into high gear.