What's Going on in the Garden

July To Do List

Summer Pruning: Cut back delphiniums and salvias after they bloom; they may rebloom later.Deadhead annuals suchs as snapdragons, verbenas, zinnias to keep them blooming. Pinch back tall fall-blooming plants several times for bushier growth. Prune bigleaf hydrangea, such as‘Nikko Blue’, directly after it flowers. Increase the flower size of dahlias and mums by removing half of their buds. Remove dead wood from the inside of hedges to promote airflow.

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Mosquito Controls: Plants that repel mosquitos: Lemongrass, Lantana, citronella
DIY mosquito trap: Cut a 2 liter soda bottle 1/3 from the top, invert the top into the bottle to create a funnel tape in place, cover with a black sock, black material, or paint black. Mix up 1 cup of warm water, 1/2 cup brown sugar, and 1 teaspoon of yeast. Pour into premade soda bottle and set 50 feet away from dining area, patio ect. to create a mosquito free zone. The mosquitoes are attracted to the CO2 the yeast gives off and get trapped in the bottle and drown.
Watch JoAnn Semeraro's video on how to make your own mosquito repellents.

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​Lawn care: Mow lawns to 3 inches to help them best conserve moisture and shade out weeds. Water deeply and infrequently rather than lightly and often.

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Veggies: Perk up tomato plants with a drink of fish emulsion in midsummer. Water tomatoes evenly to avoid blossom-end rot. Pick zucchini and squash frequently to keep it producing. Harvest herbs before they bloom for the most flavor. Plan for a fall veggie garden of broccoli, kale, lettuce and others.

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Keep new plantings watered well—an inch per week through their
first summer. Keep the gardener well watered too- Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate!