Monthly Checklist: July

It’s officially summertime, and it’s going to be a hot one!

In the Garden

Summer veggies, fruits, and herbs are getting ready to harvest!

• Check your veggies and herbs regularly!
•  Many vegetable plants start ripening in July. Check them daily to make sure you get them before critters do.
  • If you’re having trouble keeping squirrels, deer, and rabbits off your vegetable plants, spray them with Hot Pepper Wax. They’re not big fans of spice, so they’ll ignore your vegetables in favor of less spicy options. The spray washes off, so there’s no need to worry about your tomatoes being too hot when you go to eat them.
• Herbs are harvestable throughout the growing season, so harvest regularly.
  • If you’re finding that you are ending up with more herbs than you can use immediately, click here for our guide to drying and freezing your herbs.
• Berries are usually either already ripe or about to be ripe this month
•  Check for potential pest and fungal problems. Hot and humid weather is the perfect growing environment for fungal problems, and insects tend to be highly active now, too. 
  • • Neem Oil is an organic triple-action control (insects, fungus & mites) that is safe to use on edibles as well as ornamentals.
    • Captain Jack’s Dead Bug Brew is an organic insect control that works on several insect varieties.
    • Copper Fungicide is a tough, organic fungal control that clears up several common fungal problems.

• Keep fertilizing your veggies and herbs according to the fertilizer’s schedule.
  • GardenTone is a great, organic, all-purpose herb and veggie fertilizer
  • TomatoTone is ideal for all tomato plants and is also organic.

• Warm-season annuals might be a little harder to find right now, but when you do find them, they can still be planted in beds, containers, and hanging baskets.
• Deadhead existing annuals as blooms fade to encourage even more growth!
• Don’t forget the fertilizer!
  • Dynamite is a slow-release fertilizer that feeds for up to 9 months.
  • FlowerTone is an organic fertilizer, perfect for all flowering plants.
  • PlantTone is a wonderful all-purpose fertilizer for all your plants, and it’s organic too!
• Summer is hard on plants, with high temperatures and minimal rainfall. Make sure you’re plants are getting enough water by checking on them regularly. Plants in containers, raised beds, and hanging baskets are especially reliant on you for their water needs.

For the Landscape

Contrary to popular belief, you can still plant trees and shrubs in summer! The key is to make sure you keep them watered.

• Use Lobster Compost to amend soil, and Root Stimulant to help roots acclimate and help prevent transplant shock when planting.
•  If you have issues with Voles, protect new plants by using mesh Vole Bags to keep the roots safe.
• Any plants you added to your landscape this year will need your help meeting their water needs this summer. If you’re planning a fun vacation this summer, check with friends and family if they’ll be able to water your plants for you while you’re gone.
• Pests will be out and about in your garden and landscape. Check plants regularly for signs of problems; it’s easier to control problems if they’re caught early.
  • Neem Oil is an organic triple-action control (insects, fungus & mites) that is safe to use on edibles as well as ornamentals.
  •  Rose Shield is also a triple-action product that’s a bit stronger than Neem Oil, however, it is not recommended for use on edibles.
  • Rose RX is a systemic insect control that provides up to 6 weeks of protection. It’s an excellent choice if you have a plant that gets the same pest/disease problem each year around the same time.
  • Eight Insect Control is a strong insecticide that can kill over 140 types of insects.’
  • Depending on the year, Japanese Beetle numbers decline this month, with them usually completely gone by mid to late July. Once you’re sure they’re no longer a problem, you can remove your Japanese Beetle traps.
• The warmer we get (and the higher the humidity), the more often we’ll start seeing fungal problems. Like pests, fungal problems are easier to control when they’re caught early, so check regularly.
  • Copper Fungicide is an organic fungal control that treats multiple fungal problems, including Powdery Mildew and Leaf Spot. It is safe for use on edibles as well.
  • As they are both triple-action actions, Neem Oil and  Rose Shield are excellent choices for many fungal problems as well.

• Summer perennials are bursting into bloom now. If needed, large perennials can be divided once new growth starts to emerge.
• Follow the recommended feeding schedules for the fertilizers you use. Some are one and done, while others might want to be applied once a month.
  • Feed roses with RoseTone to keep them blooming all summer.
  • Perennials and other blooming shrubs can be fed with FlowerTone.
  • Fertilome Tree & Shrub can be used for all trees and shrubs.

• If you haven’t pruned your spring-blooming trees and shrubs, do so immediately! It’s best to avoid pruning them after the 4th of July; doing so can impact the blooms for next year.
• Mulch around your plants. Mulch helps retain moisture, which will be helpful this summer. It also insulates root systems, protecting plants from freezes during winter.

 In the Lawn

Depending on what kind of grass you have, there are a few different things that might need to be done for your lawn this time of year.

• Warm Season
  • It’s still the perfect time to seed, sod or plug your warm-season lawn. Ideally, you should try to get your seed down by mid-August, so it has time to root in before going dormant for winter.
    • While Ken Matthews Garden Center does not carry warm-season grass seed, we do order Zoysia sod once the temperatures are warm enough and we have enough requests. Click here to learn more about sod and how to get on the list.
  • If you aren’t planning to seed or sod this year, you can continue your battle against weeds by applying Bonide Weed Beater Ultra or Jonathan Green Lawn Weed Control as needed, according to the instructions on the bag. Keep an eye on temperature limitations, as some chemicals don’t work or can cause damage at certain temperatures.
  • If you aren’t seeding or sodding this year, you can do an application of Jonathan Green Crabgrass Preventer to protect against late summer crabgrass.
  • Continue watching for fungal problems and apply Infuse Fungicide at the first sign of fungus.
• Cool Season
  • Summer is tough on cool-season grasses, so you might have to baby them a little. 
  • Adjust the mowing height of your cool-season grass to 3-4”; taller grass will help shade the soil and keep roots cooler.
  • Like with warm-season grass, continue keeping an eye out for fungal problems, applying Infuse Fungicide as needed.
  • Used Bonide Weed Beater Ultra or Jonathan Green Lawn Weed Control to combat any summer weeds.
  • You can apply Jonathan Green Crabgrass Preventer now to prevent late summer crabgrass, but remember, you need to wait 3 months after applying before you can seed or sod your lawn.
  • Again, keep an eye on the temperature limits of any products you’re using.

For Your Pond

• Summer is algae season in ponds. The best way to combat it is with plants! Floating pond plants prevent algae from getting enough sunlight to grow. Plus, pond plants and algae need the same nutrients, adding floating plants and marginals uses up those nutrients before the algae can use them.
• If you need to go the chemical route to control your algae, make sure to pick up something like EcoFix that will break down the dead algae so you aren’t left with a bunch of sludge at the bottom of your pond.
• Whenever you add water to your pond, use Chlorine & Heavy Metal Neutralizer to remove harsh chemicals from the water.
• Feed your fish with Koi Vibrance fish food to keep your fish fed. Hungry koi are known to chow down on pond plants!

Miscellanius 

• Houseplants can take a vacation outside in summer! Just make sure you don’t give them too much light, they’re not used to direct sunlight!