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There's a variety of plants in the demonstration garden at the Extension Office.
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Perennials, Annuals, Bulbs
- Divide and transplant Daylilies, Irises and Peonies after they finish blooming (every couple of years).
- Divide older bearded iris rhizomes; cut out the woody parts and replant the rest.
- Before mid-July
- Remove one-third of growth off fall-blooming perennials to encourage abundant flowers and compact growth
- Prune Hydrangea Macrophylla and Gardenias as blooms fade
- Lightly fertilize ever-blooming and fall-blooming roses for their autumn display.
- Don’t pinch back mums or dahlias after July 1 or you may disrupt their fall blooming show.
- Pinch leggy shoots of Begonias, Coleus and Geraniums to create more shapely plants.
- Transplant and divide with care -- keep transplants moist.
- To speed new growth, lightly fertilize perennials after pruning.
- Make a final pinching of fall bloomers, such as Chrysanthemums and Asters.
- Cut Columbine back to the ground when all flowering is finished so that fresh foliage will develop.
- Remove spent flowers from perennials and annuals to promote plant vigor and growth.
- Remove canna flower stalks when seeds begin to develop.
- Prune crowded perennials and deadhead to keep them in their space and control reseeding.
- Plant seeds of Foxglove, Butterfly Weed, Shasta Daisies, Yarrow, Purple Coneflower, and Black-Eyed Susans now.
- Inspect plants regularly—aphids, beetles, thrips and white flies are at their worst this month.
- Japanese beetles continue to eat their way through our yards
- Hand pick and drown in a bucket of soapy water.
Vegetables
- Pick beans, squash and tomatoes regularly to increase production
- For sweetness, pick peas and corn late in the day (when they contain the most sugar, especially if the day was cool and sunny)
- Other vegetables, like lettuce and cucumbers, are crisper and tastier if harvested in the morning
- Plant beans and carrots now.
- Plants of collards and brussel sprouts can be set out mid-July
- Through August, start seeds indoors for collards, spinach, cabbage, broccoli and cauliflower
- Remove lower suckers on tomatoes and lightly fertilize to keep production going
- Plant tomatoes for fall
Herbs & Fruits
- Strawberries may have finished producing, but keep them mulched and add light fertilizer for next year’s crop.
- Herbs begin to mature this month—the best time to harvest them for peak flavor/scent is early morning after the dew is dry.
- Reap what you’ve grown. If you have more than you need, share with friends or a nearby retirement or assisted living center.
Lawn & Landscaping
- Change directions when mowing—go east to west one mowing, and then switch to north to south (or on a diagonal) for the next.
- During droughts: Either apply one inch of water per week or allow grass to go dormant.
- Water a dormant lawn every three weeks.
- Do not fertilize cool-season lawns until September.
- It is a good idea to submit your soil samples for analysis this month, to determine nutrient requirements for application this fall.
- Most of the year (generally April through November), routine NCDA&CS soil tests are provided at "no direct cost" to North Carolina residents.
- Watch for brown patch and continue checking for grubs.
Trees, Shrubs & Groundcovers
- Fertilize trees and shrubs for the last time this year.
- Do not prune spring flowering shrubs after July 15th.
- Continue staking tall trees/shrubs before they fall over.
- Mulch to conserve moisture. Do not crowd or pack mulch around lower stems and trunks.
- Scout landscape plants such as Japanese maple, Leyland cypress and junipers for bagworms forming, and apply an insecticide labeled for bagworms.
- Bags may also be picked off and burned later in the season, if legally allowed in your area.
- Prune “bleeder” trees (maple, dogwood, birch and elm) this month, if needed.
- Remove spent crepe myrtle and buddleia blossoms to prolong the flowering period.
- Take semi-hard cuttings now from aucuba, azalea, buddleia, camellia, clematis, nandina, gardenia, holly, kerria, Confederate rose and weigela.
- If shrubs need light trimming, don’t wait any longer; the tender re-growth could be killed back over winter.
- Hot, dry weather favors powdery mildew. As soon as you notice the disease, spray every 7-14 days (according to label directions).
- Spider mites are another problem during hot and dry weather
- Reduce their numbers with horticultural oil or spray insecticidal soap.
More to do....always!
- Don’t forget the sunscreen. Wear a hat, and remember to drink water while working outside for extended periods!
