July
Garden Calendar
Ken Lain is the owner of Watters Garden Center in
Prescott, certified nursery professional, master gardener and has
gardened extensively throughout Yavapai County.
July is a great month to garden. With the arrival of
the monsoon, plants thrive in the warmer days of summer. Even if we
don't see afternoon rains the increased humidity and shade from a
cloud floating overhead is a relief to you and the plants.
This is a great time to plant another tree, summer blooming
shrub or vine. It's also the best month to plant perennials. Most
are in bloom and looking great through the rest of the summer.
With the right timing, new growth can be flushed from
deciduous plants in the yard. Plants can look brand new and spring
damage from thrip, aphids and wind long forgotten with a simple application
of fertilizer.
In my own yard I spread a liberal application of "Start-n-Grow"
plant foor by fertilome on everything in the landscape. Each time
rain or irrigation touches this granular food, it releases vital food
for enhanced growth and better color. Expect more blooms from vegetable
and flowers, larger fruit and better taste.
In addition, I also use "Soil Activator" by
Natural Guard brands around any stressed plant or those that have
a smaller root structure by nature. This granular product is especially
important to spread on lawns and flower beds. It encourages deeper
roots, and brings out the color of evergreens, holly, hydrangea, spruce
and pine trees.
Believe it or not, this is the time to plant the fall
garden. Our gardening season is so mild we harvest celery, cabbage,
beets, brussel sprouts, chard, turnips and other cool season crops
right through winter. I usually have fresh borccoli for Christmas
dinner and all these cool season crops can be planted by seed through
August for best picking.
