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Seasonal Calendar - July
FIRST WEEK
Choosing a watermelon for the Fourth? Slap it to determine ripeness.
Good ones sound hollow; unripe ones sound like you're hitting solid
wood.
Regularly remove faded flowers from salvia, zinnia, coneflower and
especially petunia. This will encourage bushiness and the production of
more flowers.
Remove all stems that support faded flowers on your blue and pink
hydrangeas; shorten droopy, flowerless stems by one?third. The new
growth that occurs between now and winter will produce next summer's
blooms.
There is still plenty of time to plant seed of marigold, cosmos, cleome
and dwarf sunflower. They'll make a spectacular flower show in six
weeks.
Support tall flower stems prone to flop over after a rain. Use a thin
stick or a length of bamboo and some jute twine to tie the plant
upright.
SECOND WEEK
Cut back by half herbs like basil, mint and oregano. This prevents them
from producing seed and promotes more fragrant leaves.
If you're forced to dig a hole for a post, let your water hose trickle
in the spot all night long. The water will soften the soil from its
concrete-like state
Don't let fruit tree limbs break. Prop them up with poles or remove some
unripe fruit.
Check the houseplants you've stationed outdoors for insect pests. Use
insecticidal soap to manage insects if you find any.
Pick squash, cucumbers and okra regularly. One over-ripe vegetable, left
on the vine, stops bloom production.
THIRD WEEK
Wood chips make great mulch by saving moisture and controlling weeds!
Spread a layer 2 inches deep under trees and shrubs out to where the
branches end.
Ticks are a big problem this year. Take time to do a "tick check" when
kids return from romping in the yard or nearby woods.
Going on vacation? Most houseplants will grow just fine while you're
gone if placed on a wet towel in your bathtub with the curtain drawn.
Bermuda, zoysia and centipede grass sod can be successfully installed in
bare spots now. Make sure to loosen the soil six inches deep before
putting the sod in place.
Cut back dahlias to half their height. Fertilize and water the plant to
produce a crop of fall flowers.
FOURTH WEEK
Water spring-planted trees and shrubs weekly: 2 gallons of water per
foot of height.
Prune figs lightly now, removing the tall shoots in the middle of the
bush. Fruit on horizontal limbs will develop best.
Mow grass growing in the shade one-half to one inch higher than the
normally recommended height. Plants need as much leaf surface as
possible to take advantage of any available light.
Fertilize houseplants. They are getting much more light now and can use
the food to grow bigger.
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