July in the Garden

• You can still plant seeds of annuals: zinnias, marigolds, sunflowers and alyssum will grow and bloom this year.
• Be sure everything is well mulched for the heat of summer. Water before 10 am to avoid fungal infections and to minimize water loss to evaporation.
• If you have blackberries in your garden, cut the canes that bore fruit to the ground. Tie up 3-5 of the new canes and fertilize to promote new growth.
• Cut canna stems to the ground as they finish flowering to encourage new stems to grow.
• Dig and divide bearded iris that have not been divided for 3 yrs. Cut the foliage on the divisions to 6-8 inches, replanting only new rhizomes and discarding the old rhizomes.
• You can dig and divide other bulbs after the foliage has died off.
• Deadhead blooming plants as they finish flowering to promote continuing bloom. Fertilize roses after each burst of blooms.
• Cut back lavender after flowering to promote a second bloom. You can prune by half to keep the plant in bounds.
• If you have fruit trees, be sure to pick up dropped fruit to prevent brown rot from developing and leaving spores for future infection.