My July 2011 garden To Do list

OK, so this list is a week late!  Can you blame me with the weather we've been having?!  I really can't believe how much "summer" we've had.  It feels like we've already had more than we did all of last year!  And with all the rain this spring and now all this heat, things are getting big and, well, a little out of control.  There are a few areas where I haven't got around to weeding yet, a few delphiniums that should have been staked ages ago (but so far haven't flopped over), and a clematis or two that I haven't been diligent enough in making sure it climbs its trellis (next year I SWEAR I will put chicken wire behind the trellis so the clematis won't need my help...I have meant to do this for several years...)

There are also a few projects underway in my yard, which is why I haven't got around to posting my July list yet... more on those soon.  Otherwise, July is a fairly low maintenance month and it's mostly about eating from the garden and enjoying the flowers.  Hooray for that!  But here's what I'll be doing at least a little of over the next few weeks:

TREES & SHRUBS

• prune the lilacs as soon as they're finished flowering (or else risk cutting off next year's buds)
• I planted a lot of new shrubs in the front this spring, and even though they are drought-tolerant varieties, shrubs need extra water the first few years to get established.  So I've been watering regularly.  Even established trees and shrubs need water after 2 hot weeks, so if you haven't watered yours yet, it wouldn't be a bad idea!

EDIBLES

• I'll be finishing the spring spinach soon and eating lettuce as fast as I can - I sure am a healthy eater in the summer!
• when the spinach is done, I'll probably sow some more carrots and beets for harvesting a young crop as well as the spring-sown one
• Eat, eat, eat.  Weed, weed, weed.  (**strawberries should be ready to pick soon! mmm!)

ORNAMENTAL GARDENS

• There are a few things like perennial bachelor's buttons and perennial geraniums that I cut back hard after they have finished flowering.  They'll look ugly at first but much tidier later than if I hadn't cut them.
• Deadhead annuals regularly and perennials when they have finished flowering.  In the case of annuals this promotes more flowers, for most perennials it just looks tidier.

LAWN

• Ugh.  My lawn gets worse every year.  I haven't done anything for it.  But I don't see the point at least until the major construction projects around the yard are finished.

COMPOST

• The pile should be watered regular in this weather - which I just remembered when I noticed how dry mine was the other day.  I've had rodent problems before so I am vowing to water and turn regularly from now on.

What are you doing in your garden this month?

Comments

[Megan]

This weather has been amazing! I dare not complain about how hot it has been.

My garden to-do list is very long - but currently we are digging out sod in our front yard to make into garden beds. I purchased two rose bushes for that area, plus I have a few blueberry bushes that I will plant there.

I've also been trying to keep up with my vegetable garden - things are growing like crazy! I've already pulled out my spinach and I will need to pull the arugula soon as it has started to bolt (the arugula was planted very early in the season and the spinach actually came back this spring from seeds I had planted last fall). I have lots of kale, swiss chard and lettuces to eat and I've even had about 4 strawberries so far - very tasty!

Happy gardening!