July Gardening Activities – Region 1
Northwest & Northern California
States in this region include: Washington, Oregon, Alaska, and California (Northern).
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Think ahead! Start seed of cool-season crops like broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage and Brussels sprouts for harvesting later this fall. Seeds can be directly sown in your vegetable garden or started in seed trays for transplanting in the garden later this summer.
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Wear loose, light-colored, lightweight clothing when working in the garden. (And don't forget the hat, sunscreen and water bottle!) Early morning and evening hours are the coolest times to work outside. Remember to pace yourself - the garden will be there tomorrow.
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Keep weeds to an absolute minimum whenever possible - they'll continue to make their presence known in and around the garden. Weeds rob needed moisture and nutrients from desirable plants. Use a pre-emergent weed control in clean planting beds, according to label directions. Mulch can also be used on landscape beds to help keep weeds at bay.
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Keep your summer vegetable garden in production mode. As one crop finishes, rip it out, compost it, then plant another! Here are some examples: If you plant a row or two of beans this month, you'll have ample beans for blanching and freezing for this upcoming winter. And radish is a quick crop to grow - depending on the variety, you could be harvesting this veggie in 4 short weeks!
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Grow rosemary, basil, sage and tarragon - it's easy in the summer garden! Then take the time to make your own dried herbs, oils and infusions so you can enjoy your summer harvest when the snow flies!
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Enjoy local harvests! Delicious fruits and vegetables are making their summer appearance at local roadside and farmers' markets. Buy a little extra for freezing or canning - and think of the sweet goodness you'll enjoy months from now, when you open a mason jar of still-peachy peaches!
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Give your turf a refreshing drinkrepeatedly. Lawns need long, thorough waterings, especially in high temps. If it doesn't rain, give the grass 1-2 inches of water per week, with as much of that in one application as possible, to help keep it healthy and green. Just be prepared: Watering the lawn properly could take up to a few hours, depending on the method used and the amount needed.
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Get out your camera and garden journal - it's time to take inventory of what's doing well and what's struggling in your garden! Documenting how your garden grows will help you decide what to plant next season. They say a picture's worth a thousand words, so photograph the good (for replication next year), capture the bad (so mistakes aren't repeated) and avoid the ugly next year.
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Keep your annuals blooming and looking their colorful best: Deadhead any spent flowers to encourage more blooms; keep up with watering, checking planting beds and containers daily; and liquid-feed according to label directions to encourage additional flowers through the season.
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Mulch your landscape beds if you haven't done it yet. A few inches of organic mulch is all you need to keep weeds at bay, conserve needed soil moisture and protect roots from the hot, scorching sun. (A word to the wise: Never mound mulch up against the crown or trunk of plants; keep it a few inches away.)
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Before going on your summer vacation, enlist a trustworthy neighbor or gardening friend to care for your lawn and garden while you're away. To make sure your plants (and friendship) survive, invite your "garden babysitter" over to your yard before you leave, so you can clearly discuss your task expectations.
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Add even more instant color to the garden: Plant more annuals in containers.
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Share your excess produce from your veggie garden - perhaps with a local food co-op or shelter. (This is a great summertime act of kindness, especially when children are involved!)
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