Rutgers Gardens

Gardening Notes For July

Gardening Notes for July

Those hazy, lazy days of summer have finally arrived.  The temperatures are warm, the sun is high and hopefully all your spring gardening efforts have paid off!  During July and August, it is best to get outside during the early mornings and evenings if possible, when the temperatures are cooler.  Keep records on daily temperatures and rainfall, since summer heat and drought affects plants as much as winter cold and snow.  Also, do not forget to wear a big hat and plenty of sunscreen!    

Things to do:

  • Continue watering, weeding and fertilizing those pots and containers.  The plants are now beginning to approach their mature size and it is important to keep them well fed and hydrated.  If you used slow release fertilizer pellets in your containers, use a 50% dilute solution of liquid feed.  During hot periods, containers may need to be watered twice per day.  Some of the plants, such as Coleus and Plectranthus would benefit from an occasional pinching, to make the plants more full.
  • For areas of turf, raise the cutting height to 3” during the hotter and drier months in order to reduce stress.  If you irrigate, do so for extended periods early in the morning to encourage deeper root growth.  Try not to water in the evening, since that will promote various fungal problems.  Avoid using any fertilizers during the summer months.
  • Deadhead Hybrid Tea Roses and give them a light feeding.
  •  Some perennials can be pinched or cut back to the ground, such as Catnip (Nepeta faassenii) various tall Stonecrops (Sedum ‘Matrona’ and ‘Autumn Joy’), early blooming Salvias (Salvia nemerosa cultivars) and Yarrows (Achillea cultivars).
  • Weed.  There is an endless growth of weeds at this time of the year.  It is best to get them young before they become noticeable or the root systems become too established.
  • Peas, radishes, lettuce, spinach and other cool season crops need to be composted.  At this point summer squash and cucumbers are beginning to come of size; make certain that they are harvested when small (6-10”) to ensure that they are tender.
  • When watering tomatoes, make certain that the fruit remains dry in order to reduce the occurrence of blossom end rot.   Try to keep the tomatoes staked; contact with the ground can also promote blossom end rot and other decay problems.
  • Provide a light pruning to rampant growing Wisteria stems, stray stems of Clematis, and other rapidly growing vines.  A heavy pruning will invigorate more growth and a potential loss of flowers for the Clematis.  A light pruning will keep the plant in control without producing much harm.

We are always happy to answer any of your gardening questions.  Please submit them to rugardens@aesop.rutgers.edu or for additional plant information visit the Rutgers Gardens web site at www.rutgersgardens.rutgers.edu.

 

 

-----