Gardening in July means keeping plants hydrated and protected from intense summer heat, especially during peak afternoon sun. It’s also a great time to deadhead spent blooms, harvest vegetables, and plant heat-loving flowers like zinnias and marigolds. Read on for more gardening tips!

Plant Doctor Quips

Nick Macaluso, Plant Doctor at our Pyramid Way store, explains, “With the summer heat upon us, it is imperative that you are thoroughly saturating the root ball of your plants. This is done by watering for a long duration infrequently. If your trees and shrubs are on a drip system, I usually suggest watering them for an hour, three or four days a week. This will ensure that water is getting all the way down to the bottom of the root ball. This is preferred over watering for a small amount of time two or three times a day. If your system is only running for twenty minutes, then the water doesn’t have enough time to fully saturate the root ball. If you have to hand water, I recommend emulating a drip system. This can be done by turning your water on ever so slightly, the watering should be dripping out, then leave the hose near the edge of the canopy of your plants for about an hour. This can be done three or four days a week. If you have any questions about watering come in and see one of the plant doctors.“

Steve Packer, Plant Doctor at our S. Virginia store, asks, “Have you ever planted a flower or vegetable plant one day and the next morning the leaves are holey or look like lace from insects that feed at night? If you want to see who these buggers are then you need to go on what I call a ‘Bug Safari’. Once it is dark outside (around 10 pm) grab your flashlight and head to the garden. Quietly tiptoe through your flowers and veggies shining your light on the leaves of your new transplants looking for insects feeding on leaves or flowers. Take a picture of the insects you see and bring them in for a plant doctor to ID and recommend what to spray. It’s that simple. Bring along your kids or grandkids for more fun.”

Jeni Ware, Plant Doctor at our S. Virginia store, says, “Our lawns start showing signs of heat stress right about now. Checking that the sprinklers are evenly watering by placing containers (same size) in different parts (some where the grass is yellowing and also where it looks healthy), running your sprinklers and seeing if the containers are equally filled can help determine if there are any discrepancies. We also now have a product I’m very excited about: IFA Humate (a large bag for only $17.99!) It adds carbon to the soil to help green up grass, allows the grass to utilize water better and the healthier your soil is, the more lovely your grass will be.“

Bird Nerd, Annemarie Tillotson explains, “It’s that time of year when the weather is hot and food goes bad faster. Continue cleaning feeders often with a mild bleach solution and rinse with water. To get the most use of your seed, try filling feeders from the bottom. By doing this, old seed will be forced to the top of the feeder, which means it’ll get eaten first, making the most of your seed and money.“

Rob Bouck, from our Moana Lane store, explains, “Late July is an ideal time to divide bearded iris. Division of these spring garden showstoppers is typically performed every 3 to 5 years to prevent overcrowding, maintain blooming and plant vigor. The root-like rhizomes of the bearded iris grow horizontally underground and are the food storage centers of the plant. When dividing bearded iris, first cut the leaf blades back to about one-third of their height to reduce stress on the plant. Lift rhizomatous clumps with a spade. Divide the rhizomes by pulling apart with your hands; they should easily break off at a joint. If using a knife, make sure to dip the blade in a 10% bleach to water solution after each cut. Your transplant rhizomes should be about as thick as your thumb, have healthy roots, and one to two leaf fans. Discard the oldest portions of the uprooted rhizomes or any soft, mushy portions. Young rhizomes should be replanted in a shallow hole about 10 to 12 inches in diameter, 4 inches deep. After building up a soil mound in the center of your planting hole, place your rhizome on the mound, fanning out the roots, filling the planting site with soil. Avoid planting too deeply. The top portion of the rhizome should be just visible at the surface. Tamp soil firmly to anchor the iris rhizome, watering after the transplant is completed. Bearded iris division in mid to late summer every 3 to 5 years will ensure a consistent and beautiful spring bloom display year after year.“

July
Moana Nursery High Desert Gardening
Timely Tips

  • Avoid late afternoon and evening watering to prevent leaf diseases on lawn, shrubs and especially roses.
  • Established trees, shrubs, perennials & roses must receive 1 inch of water per week throughout their root zones.
  • Continue to cultivate and weed. 
  • If not done yet, mulch garden beds immediately after weeding with 2 to 4 inches of organic material such as G&B Organics Soil Building Conditioner to retain moisture and keep weeds under control.
  • Inspect lawn for weeds. Pull out annual weeds, such as crabgrass before they go to seed. UNR Cooperative Extension recommends setting your mower at a higher height setting of 3-4”. This will reduce water stress, control weeds, and develop a healthier lawn naturally.
  • Control insect pests, including aphids, mealybugs, scale, spider mites, thrips, whitefly and others with Ladybugs and Lacewings and Fertilome Triple Action Plus. For safe and quick control of leaf chewing insects, use Captain Jack’s Deadbug Brew.
  • Check all plants weekly to be sure they are getting adequate water.  Inspect your irrigation system regularly for leaks, clogged emitters, broken/clogged heads, and other problems.  Adjust watering schedule as weather dictates.
  • To prevent brown patch and other lawn fungus diseases that begin to show up in June and July, spray your lawn with Fertilome F-Stop Fungicide or Fertilome Copper Fungicide  – especially if fungus was present last season. For best results, alternate the fungicide used each year.
  • Be watchful for signs of lawn grub damage. Consult a Moana expert to determine the true cause of your patchy lawn and for the best treatment.
  • Continue to deadhead roses by cutting flowers back to the first set of five leaflets.
  • Monitor roses closely for blackspot. Remove any leaves that show darkened circles with fuzzy margins on either side of the leaves; yellow foliage with dark spots; and any leaves that have already dropped from the plant. Dispose of infected leaves in the trash; do not compost. In the future, select disease resistant roses like Bailey’s Easy Elegance series.
  • If not done yet, renovate overgrown shrubs including red twig dogwood, lilac, and forsythia by removing one-third of the old, thick canes.
  • Prune out all ground-level sucker growth from crabapple, apple, plum, peach, or apricot trees by cutting outgrowth below soil level; treat with Bonide Sucker Punch.
  • Prune out weak, green but very fast-growing water sprouts that grow vertically from branches of fruit trees, redbuds, or other ornamental flowering trees. Treat with Bonide Sucker Punch.
  • Fertilize fruits and vegetables with G&B Organics Tomato, Vegetable & Herb Fertilizer or Fruit, Citrus & Berry Fertilizer every 2 months. For those who are starting late or just want greater planting growth, one application of Gardner & Bloome Bat Guano will give a quick boost in growth for your corn, tomatoes, cucumbers, and many others.
  • Spray tomato (and other vegetable) blossoms with Fertilome Tomato & Pepper Set to encourage more fruit production and use G&B Organics Tomato, Vegetable & Herb Fertilizer which is rich in calcium to prevent blossom end rot.
  • Monitor tomatoes and ensure that they receive an even supply of moisture instead of heavy soaking and then a drought. 
  • Monitor vegetables for symptoms of fungus or blight: soft, darkened areas, yellow and dropping leaves, sunken dark spots on otherwise green foliage. Control with Copper Fungicide and removal of infected tissues.
  • Monitor all plants for insects.  Hand-remove large insects such as tomato hornworms, cicadas, and other caterpillars.
  • For maximum fruit size and vigor, prune out excessive fruit on trees as follows: 2-4” apart for plums along stem, 3-5” apart for peaches and nectarines along stem, 1 to 2 fruits per cluster for apples and pears.
  • Continue to harvest herbs, whatever you can’t use fresh, you can dry, or freeze in small batches in an ice cube tray (with olive oil or butter, yum!).  
  • Pinch off developing flowers to retain essential oils and flavor in the plant’s foliage. Especially with basil, leaving the blooms on basil can reduce the sweetness of the leaves.
  • Mulch vegetable garden with 2 – 4” of G&B Organics Soil Building Conditioner or Purely Compost to retain moisture and control weeds.
  • Continue deadheading annuals and perennials to encourage more flowering. When deadheading annual geraniums, remove the entire stem with fading flowers.
  • Prune out the longest stem of cascading petunias weekly to prevent plants from becoming scraggly.
  • Hot dry weather can result in increased mite activity. Symptoms include stippling of foliage. Remove affected foliage and treat with Bonide Neem Oil or Monterey Natural Mite & Insect Control. Use according to the label.
  • Continue planting new perennials, ornamental grasses & roses.
  • Stake tall perennial plants.
  • Continue to guide clematis & all other soft-stemmed vines to their supports.
  • Houseplants tend to grow rapidly in the summer months due to the warmth and being fully out of dormancy, but if you’re seeing a lack of new leaves, you may consider adding some nutrients into your soil. For your leafy plants like monsteras and philodendrons, using a nitrogen focused fertilizer like Fox Farms Grow Big or Fertilome All Purpose Houseplant Fertilizer will help push out large leaves. Flowering plants like orchids and african violets will benefit with slightly more phosphorus, which makes Fertilome African Violet Fertilizer a great choice.
  • If your plant has doubled in size and you haven’t repotted it in a while, it may be time to repot it with some fresh soil in a slightly larger pot. We recommend EB Stone Indoor Potting Mix, and G&B Organics Blue Ribbon Blend for a successful repot. Succulents and cacti don’t need to be repotted as often but if you want to give yours a fresh start, using G&B Organics Palm, Citrus & Cactus Mix will give you an ideal draining soil for those plants that like to dry out.
  • As the weather gets warmer, you may notice the increasing presence of gnats with your houseplants. We recommend using Safer Houseplant Sticky Stakes or Mosquito Bits to help get rid of these pests. Sticky stakes are effective at catching the adults, while mosquito bits are useful in targeting the eggs and larvae that live in the soil. If possible, cut back on watering your houseplants slightly to help control the gnat population, as they love damp, wet soils!
  • Watering your houseplants early in the morning will allow for less water to evaporate before the roots can soak it up, ensuring your plants stay hydrated through the heat of the day. Watering in the morning will give the leaves time to dry out before the hot afternoon sun hits, lowering the risk of leaf scorch and fungal issues. Adding this to your morning routine will make it easier to keep a regular watering schedule.
  • Keep your foliage dust-free to help improve the overall health of the plant by enhancing photosynthesis. Regularly dust plant leaves with something soft, such as an Ostrich feather duster. If a lot of dust has built up over time, use a soft, damp cloth to gently wipe both sides of the leaves. Cleaning your plant’s leaves helps them breathe and function better during the warm months, while making those pretty leaves shine.
  • Many birds are now beginning their main molt (replacement of their feathers) which requires extra protein to grow strong feathers for proper flight and effective insulation. For the next few months, offer high-protein bird foods, such as Nyjer, Peanuts, Jim’s Birdacious Bark Butter® or continue to offer Nesting Blend to ensure that your birds have a reliable source of protein to help them with molting.
  • As summer progresses, Rufous hummingbirds will start showing up and will stay into the fall.
  • Add movement to birdbaths with water wigglers to attract more birds.
  • Continue offering WBU Suet Dough to warblers, nuthatches, wrens & woodpeckers, and all insect-eating birds. It’s a great way to provide additional protein.
  • Continue to put out oranges, grape jelly and nectar for orioles and sugar water for hummingbirds.  Be sure to change every few days to avoid spoilage — more frequently if in full sun all day.
  • Continue to supply fresh water and change it every 3 days to keep it clean.  To prevent the chance of disease, clean birdbath weekly with a weak bleach solution (1 part bleach to 9 parts water) and rinse well. 
  • Store bird food in a sealed container and keep in a cool dry place to prevent spoilage.
  • To ensure that bird seed is eaten quickly and stays fresh, keep feeders filled with a one- or two-day supply of seed.
  • Clean and sterilize your bird feeders every 3 weeks with a bleach solution (see above) to prevent the spread of disease. 
  • Install a customized Wild Birds Unlimited bird feeding station where you can easily watch the birds it attracts. It can be installed in the ground or on a deck.
  • Our Seasonal Color Team can help you with custom containers, annual planting beds or a simple refresh of your existing garden. Schedule a free consultation today!
  • Need help with your indoor plants? Contact our Interior Plant Services team. They can help you design, install, and maintain your indoor plants! Want a WOW plant presentation? Ask about installing a LIVING PLANT WALL! Examples of plant walls are available to see at both our Moana Lane and Pyramid Way locations.
  • Our expert Plant Doctors can help you with your high desert gardening;
    • Diagnose disease & insect problems on trees, shrubs & lawns;
    • Identify existing plants in your landscape and how to care for them;
    • Provide plant placement for DIY customers.
    • Stop by any location to ask questions or email plantdoctor@moananursery.com.