July Gardening Activities - Region 5
July Gardening Activities – Region 5
Rocky Mountain and California Mountain Gardens
States in this region include: Utah, Colorado, Wyoming, Idaho and California (Mountain).
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Water your summer lawnrepeatedly. Turf needs long, thorough waterings, especially in high temps. Give it 1-2 inches of water per week, with as much of that in one application as possible, to help keep the grass healthy and green. (But be prepared: It could take several hours to apply that needed amount of water.)
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Mulch your landscape beds, if you haven't already. A few inches of organic mulch is all you need to keep weeds at bay, conserve needed soil moisture and protect roots from the scorching sun. (A word to the wise: Never mound mulch around the crown or trunk of plants; keep it a few inches away.) If you already have mulch in your beds, check how it's holding up. If it's become matted, fluff it up. If the layer is thin, add a bit more.
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Water your roses well - especially as temperatures continue to climb. (A well-hydrated rose is a healthy, happy one!) Use a soaker hose or drip irrigation to get water to the roots - where it's most needed.
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Keep watering your plants - but don't be wasteful. Rain barrels, mulch and water polymers are just a few water conservation techniques you can practice to help your garden, as well as the environment.
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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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Leave your grass a bit longer during the hotter months. Set the mower blade to 3-1/2 inches. Recycle the clippings back into the lawn to provide a little extra nutrition. (Note: Clippings do not create thatch.) In the market for a new lawn mower? Learn what your options are before you go shopping!
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Keep an eye on your shrubs on July 4th. More than one house fire has happened due to an errant firework landing in a shrub border. Spraying down foliage and watering plants well may help prevent tragic circumstances. Firescaping your landscape by planting water-holding plants (like succulents) along your perimeters is another safety precaution worth taking.
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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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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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Keep blooming annuals looking their best: Deadhead any spent flowers (to encourage more blooms), keep up with watering (check beds and containers daily), and liquid-feed (according to label directions) to encourage additional flowers throughout the season.
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Enlist a trustworthy neighbor or gardening friend to care for your lawn and garden while you're away on vacation. 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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Come to The Garden Party and share your gardening adventures with other home gardeners around the country! Post pictures of your garden, write a blog or ask expert green thumbs for more help, tips or suggestions.
