It’s July in your garden! Hopefully, you planted serial perennials and they are moving through their bloom periods nicely; your annuals are in full bloom and your vegetables are noticeably growing. This is what we longed for during those long winter months. So, take time to sit back and just enjoy the fruits of your labor and the gift of summer in Minnesota.

But, of course, in order to keep your garden looking its best, there are a few things of which we should be mindful this month. Let’s take a look.

Tidy up your perennial and annual flowers. Deadhead faded flowers by pruning the stem to slightly above the first set of leaves. Although, most Minnesota perennials don’t rebloom because of our short growing season, there are some plants that will provide another show after deadheading or pruning (catmint, daylilies, coneflower, salvia, spirea). However, don’t expect quite the vigorous show as the first bloom. Most annuals will be refreshed by a careful pruning. 

If you haven’t already done so, prune spring-flowering shrubs. For more on pruning spring-flowering shrubs, read this article. 

Some perennials, like irises, should be divided in late July to early August. Want more information about dividing irises? Here is a great article. 

If you put your houseplants outside this summer, check on them regularly to make sure they are managing the outside weather. Fertilize them more often when they are growing and move them into shade or inside if they appear stressed.

Heat - too hot to grow. While we may enjoy the heat, some of your plants may not. Some vegetables slow their growth during the hot days of summer. During days when the weather reaches sustained temperatures of 80s and 90s, vegetables like cucumbers, zucchini, tomatoes or beans may not ripen. Also, wait to prune your plants, as pruning is another stressor. 

Apparently, bees also don’t like it hot. When the temperatures reach 90 degrees, many bees slow down and pollinate less. Not much can be done but waiting out the hot temperatures. We know that the weather will eventually cool down.

Keep weeding during hot weather as weeds compete for water with your precious plants. 

Water wisely. You planted the plants and probably spent some money to make your garden look great. Don’t let the plants wither away in the hot July sun. Note that the average garden needs about an inch of rain per week. During extreme heat, some plants, especially container plants, may need watering more often.  But water wisely. 

Make sure you know your city’s watering restrictions, as many limit watering to certain days of the week. Water plants in the morning as this allows the plants and soil to absorb more water; the heat of the day causes more evaporation. Drip irrigation is preferred because water is deposited directly into the soil. If watering by hand, water as close to the surface as possible. 

Deal with insects and diseases wisely. Get to know your beneficial insects from your destructive ones (read this article). One of the most despised destructive insects that appears this time of year is the Japanese beetle. The University of Minnesota suggests not killing Japanese beetles immediately after they emerge. Why? Winsome flies lay their eggs on the beetles and kill them. They appear as large white spots on the beetles’ bodies. (For more on Japanese Beetles.) 

Squash bugs and squash borer appear this time of year. Squash bugs lay their eggs on the undersides of leaves. Squash vine borer lay their eggs at the base of plants. 

Watch your tomatoes for early blight or blossom end rot. Cucumbers are susceptible to powdery mildew as are other plants. 

Some of your vegetables or herbs may be ready for harvesting (ex., basil, cilantro, dill). Pinch off the top leaves to encourage more growth and for eating, of course!

Take care of your damaged trees and shrubs. Summer storms can wreak havoc with our trees and shrubs. When trees have ragged wounds, they do not heal well. Cut off smaller branches with a sharp pruner. Call an arborist if you have extensive damage to your trees.

Lawn care. Grass also requires about an inch of water a month. Generally, lawns benefit from more deep watering less often. Read this article for information about watering lawns. Hold off on spraying herbicides in the lawn until fall when temperatures are cooler and the roots start to pull the energy into their crowns. Most herbicides are less effective, anyway, when applied in very hot weather. Manually pull weeds during this time. Likewise, don’t fertilize during hot weather as that can damage your grass. Increase the mowing height by an inch during mid-summer to improve the lawn's ability to tolerate stress caused by heat and drying winds.

Planting Fall Vegetables. You can start to direct-sow fall vegetables when your earlier vegetables have flowered (bolted). Cabbage, carrots, beets, and broccoli are good fall crops. Look at this article for ideas about vegetables to plant now for a fall harvest. Alternatively, you can plant a cover crop for your vegetable garden. This will improve your soil and give you a break from growing and harvesting.

Performing garden maintenance may not be as fun as planting and harvesting; but engaging in a few healthy practices in mid-summer will allow you to enjoy a healthy and beautiful garden for the entire growing season. It’s worth it!

References:

https://extension.umn.edu/news/july-garden-checklist

https://www.ndsu.edu/agriculture/ag-hub/ag-topics/crop-production/diseases-insects-and-weeds/weeds/herbicides-and-hot-weather

https://extension.umn.edu/planting-and-growing-guides/how-excessive-heat-affects-vegetable-garden

https://extension.umn.edu/planting-and-growing-guides/gardening-hot-weather

https://extension.umn.edu/lawn-care/mowing-practices-healthy-lawns

https://northerngardener.org/july-garden-chores/