2005_07_01_archive

CHORES FOR JULY

Here are many of the chores you need to deal with this month. If you

want to see the entire years chores you can check out my link for

that. I have them all together and listed as a separate page in the

little sidebar over on the right side of this page.

JULY

Order spring bulbs now for the best selection

Fertilize plants growing in containers

Direct seed kale seed for fall harvest

Sow a fall crop of peas

Pinch basil plants to promote bushiness

Side dress vegetables with nitrogen

Put nets over blueberries to protect them from birds

Dead-head (prune off) all your spent blossoms

It's a good time to sow seed of biennials and perennials

Cut back delphiniums when they are finished flowering. A complete

fertilizer at this time may encourage a second blooming.

Chrysanthemums will give a better fall display if fertilized a

bit now. You can continue pinching them back until mid-July for more

blooms.

Try planting a clump of moisture loving Japanese iris where it can

catch the water dripping from your air conditioner!

Madonna lilies should be divided as soon as the flowering period

is over.

Oriental poppies may be moved. Summer is the only time of the

year they can be divided successfully. Dig up the roots and cut them

into 2 inch pieces and replant them in their new location.

Dahlias require little artificial watering in a normal season,

but should be soaked once a week during drought

Water your roses at least once a week

Floribunda roses will flower all summer if the old flower clusters

are snipped off regularly

This is the time for transplanting iris. Trim back foliage and only

replant healthy, firm rhisomes. Set them quite close to the surface!

Start cuttings of coleus, geraniums, begonias and other plants

you want inside for the winter.

The snow-in-summer should be pruned hard as it makes such rapid

growth at this time

When you trim deciduous hedges(ie,privot)be sure the sides slope out

toward the bottom to be sure that sunlight reaches the base of the

plants.

Wisteria's may be pruned now

This is a good time to attack Poison Ivy! Using discardable plastic