There are many tasks to do in the summer garden. What are the most important gardening tasks in July to ensure your plants thrive? And what care for vegetables, fruits and flowers must gardeners consider? Read on!
Water properly in the summer heat
In summer the weather gets hotter and in July most vegetables in the garden need water to produce bountiful harvests. Water regularly and do not allow the soil to dry out. Deep watering is the best option because it allows the roots to grow deeper and makes the best use of the water because if you only water on the surface the water will evaporate quickly. Cucumbers and tomatoes especially need deep watering. Be careful not to get the leaves of beans and tomatoes wet as they can easily become moldy. How often to water in July? Water heavily once or twice a week instead of sprinkling every day.
The most important gardening tasks in July include controlling weeds. The garden grows lushly in summer, but weeds also take over the outdoor area. Vegetables do not tolerate competition from weeds, so you need to take care of themSuccessfully combat weeds. Weed regularly between crops. You can also use mulch to control weeds and solarize empty beds to prevent weeds. Spread a layer of clear plastic over the beds and leave it in place for six weeks. If the soil is slightly moist you will achieve best results. The heat kills pathogens and pests.
Remove spent flowers from perennial flowers
Remove the spent flowers of your spring perennial flowers, as well as the spent summer flowers that no longer look as pretty after blooming. This will keep the plants in good shape and prevent unwanted seed formation. Removing spent flowers saves energy for the roots, allowing the flowers to wrap better and bloom better next year.
Mulching is one of the most important gardening tasks in July
Experienced gardeners know that mulch is the key to a low-maintenance, healthy garden. Mulch conserves soil moisture, reduces competition from weeds, and improves the quality of fruits and vegetables. Mulch the soil after light tillage to retain moisture. Use fast-rotting mulches in vegetable beds so you can dig things up after the season.
Harvest ripe vegetables and fruit daily
Check daily for ripe vegetables in your garden and harvest daily.Vegetables like cucumbers, green beans, zucchini and eggplant taste better when harvested young. You also have to harvest strawberries, raspberries and blueberries every day because they taste better that way.What else to harvest in July?? Garlic, onions, shallots should be ready now. Lift them carefully and let them dry in the sun. You can clean them up later.
What to plant in the garden in July
What can you plant in the garden in July? July is the time to sow seeds for the fall harvest. From mid to late July, summer and winter salads, root crops and spring cabbage can be planted in the garden. Direct sowing of chicory, endive, Chinese cabbage, Asian vegetables, lettuce, mustard and spinach in the shade of taller plants is also part of the gardening work in July. At the end of this month, direct sow French beans, turnips, chard, radishes and daikons. Start by planting broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, Calabrese and cauliflower, transplanting them into the garden in three to four weeks. Plant potatoes that you want to harvest as “early potatoes” this fall. You can simply use sprouted potatoes from your kitchen.
Thin and support plants
Some vegetables grow quickly and you need to thin them out so they don't compete with each other. Check the supports on tall and climbing plants. Pinch off the growing tips of the runner beans when they reach the top of their support.
Fight pests and diseases
Inspect plants regularly for pests and diseases to ensure you grow healthy plants in the garden. Hand pick larger pests such as caterpillars and tomato hornworms. One of the best preventive measures is to keep the garden clean. By regularly controlling weeds, you also contribute to the healthy growth of the plants. Remove falling leaves and fruit.
Caring for the lawn in July
The lawns in the garden need to be mowed regularly so that the grass grows healthy and looks attractive. So try to cut the grass twice a week if your lawn is growing well. Be careful not to set the mower blades too low as dry weather can slow growth. Ifthe weather is too dry, mow your lawn only once a week and water regularly to keep the grass fresh. You can fertilize your lawn in July provided the weather is not too hot. Water before 10 a.m. in the morning before the temperature rises. This is the ideal time for regular summer watering as it allows moisture to penetrate the soil.
Here we have put together a checklist for you with the most important gardening tasks in July
- Water properly – don’t let the soil dry out
- Weed regularly so that the plants grow healthily
- Remove spent blooms and keep flowers in good shape
- Mulch adequately to retain soil moisture
- Harvest ripe vegetables and fruit daily for the best taste
- Planting vegetables for the fall harvest in the garden in July
- Thin and support plants for healthy growth
- Check garden plants for pests and diseases
- Take proper care of the lawn in July – mow, fertilize, water
