July In the Garden 2024
“Gardeners spend all day in their beds.” (Anonymous) While we all can appreciate the humor in this quote, in reality any gardener I know would say “Fat chance of that happening!” They will tell you some of their best work in the garden gets done in the early quiet of a summer morning. (Or at least thinking about it over a cup of coffee on the deck.) So if you are working in your beautiful garden or savoring that second cup of coffee, here are a few things to contemplate about gardening in July!
At some point in July, the weather will get hot. (That is up for debate in Saskatchewan) All joking aside, yes it will get very hot and windy at times and you must pay extra attention to watering your outdoor plants. Check all containers, planters, and hanging baskets daily for water needs. In very hot weather you may need to water daily or even twice a day. Water until the water drains out the bottom of the pot and then water again. If a hanging basket is extremely dry, immerse the pot in a bucket of water (with a pinch of fertilizer) until the air bubbles are gone. The basket should be heavy before you hang it back up.
When watering your lawn, trees, shrubs, perennials and vegetable garden, water infrequently and deeply. Watering every day and shallowly does not cut it. You are not doing your plants any favors as their roots will remain shallow (and hot) instead of following the water down further into the soil. If possible, water in the early morning. Watering at night will only encourage disease. Invest in a drip irrigation system as it will save water by delivering the moisture directly to the root zone. It will also save you time!
Mulch can help keep your garden moist for longer periods between waterings and keep those weeds down as well. Compost is the best mulch or use leaf mold saved over from the previous fall. A product such as newsprint that will decompose is often used between rows in the veggie garden to let moisture in and keep weeds down. Make sure to apply the newsprint in layers to provide an effective barrier. You can also add straw or composted leaf mold over the top of the newsprint to keep it in place.
Do not forget to fertilize. Fertilizer is vitamins for plants. It helps plants do the job that they are meant to do – helping to keep them healthy, fight disease and encourage growth of leaves, flowers, fruit and seed. There are many kinds of fertilizer on the market – Miracle Gro, Jobes, GardenPro, Dyna Grow, Scotts and Orgunique, just to name a few. All are available in different formulations (water soluble and slow release) for lawns, vegetables, flowering plants, and indoor tropical plants. Your garden and tropical plants will benefit from regular fertilization through the summer until mid -August.
Plants in containers, hanging baskets and planters especially need regular fertilization. These containers are full of roots and have used up the soil nutrient long ago. I fertilize my potted plants every two weeks in summer with water soluble 20-20-20. I begin in June with half strength applications and move to full strength in summer. Please read and follow the directions on the container – too much fertilizer can weaken a plant, stall its growth and eventually cause plant death. This applies to all water soluble fertilizers. Always water your containers first before fertilization.
If possible, avoid planting trees and shrubs in July. July planting creates a definite imbalance between root and top growth with root growth winning every time. The leaves will droop and flag in the heat. The plant is not dead but this will cause it stress which may affect its health and vigor. Because life sometimes does not follow the rules, if a tree needs moving in July or you must plant that windbreak, pay special attention to the watering. Do not let the tree dry out and prepare for leaf flagging after planting. Do use a root booster or Mykes.
It’s a fact of life that occasionally a flowering plant or two in a container will die. If this occurs in a hanging basket or mixed planter, assess the situation and see if you can cut out its root zone without too much trouble. If this is possible, cut it out with a serrated knife, put in a little new soil and insert a replacement plant. Fill in any gaps with new soil and deeply water the container. I realize that flowering annuals are hard to find in July but a few four inch varieties may still be available and remember that tropicals and perennials may also work as a replacement.
The other option is to cut the dead plant back almost to the soil and the remaining plants will fill in. You may even luck out and the root of the “dead” plant will send up new shoots in a week or two!
Yes, you can plant some heat loving vegetables in July! The air and soil are warm and their seed will germinate quickly. Just make sure you choose varieties that mature before the first frost date in Saskatoon. A few heat loving vegetables are as follows – bush beans/ pole beans, snow peas, carrots, beets turnips, okra, zucchini, kale, and kohlrabi. Some of these veggies are available in miniature varieties!
Enjoy those July mornings and enjoy your July garden!