July is when temperature finally start to get warm in the Pacific Northwest . It ’s also when the atmosphere starts to become much drier and have less overall humidness , except when a rarefied summertime thunder - and - lightning violent storm helps to increase it . Summer here is wonderful , especially recent eve spent out of doors on the terrace or in the garden . As I always say , make trusted to pass some fourth dimension appreciate all the hard work and effort you have put into your garden . Here are a few garden chores to take concern of in July to carry you through until August .
review the yearly in your garden . I love to use summertime annuals in my containers and in garden borders . Now is a majuscule time to find a large selection of long - bloom late summertime annuals at local nurseries and garden centre . There are many wonderful heirloom salmagundi of flowering tobacco plant ( Nicotianaspp . and cvs . ) , zinnias ( Zinniaspp . and cvs . ) , cosmos ( Cosmosspp . and cvs . ) , and marigolds ( Tagatesspp . and cvs . ) that are well deserving a try in your garden . Along with growing more summer annuals , it is also important to carry on to deadhead earlier - set miscellanea to keep them bloom all season long . Many will chop-chop go to come with the change in temperature and may be too far go to save . In these cases , it is best to completely remove them from your garden and replace them with fresh plants .
Plant your next round of vegetables . If you are turn some of your own vegetables and greens , recollect to keep up with your succession planting of salad greens , carrot , and herbs . There are many strong - weather and slow - to - bolt lettuces such as ‘ Jericho ’ , ‘ Red Cross ’ , and ‘ Merlot ’ . Some great fond - conditions herbs to keep sowing are basil , Petroselinum crispum , and schnittlaugh . Harvesting pelf and herb with the ‘ undercut and come again ’ method is slap-up for those mentioned above . Using shade material is also another great way to keep carrots , radishes , and other quick - growing veg cooler in the summer heat . I recommend checking out thewarm - weather come varietiesat Johnny ’s Selected Seeds . I often grow these plants in magniloquent Henry Clay containers that help keep slugs and escargot away from my crop . little crops are also a great fashion to keep off wasting the intellectual nourishment that you have maturate . By limiting the amount develop to a small container , gardeners can also sample Modern and different William Green , vegetable , and herb without a committedness to a orotund horticulture distance . Growing pabulum in containers is also majuscule for garden enthusiasts with limited space .
Deadhead and fertilize roses . Many rose start up to become old-hat in July , but they will go forward to do all time of year long with a monthly app of an all - purpose rose fertilizer . Roses are laborious feeders ; fecundate them will help ensure a uninterrupted efflorescence . Do not leave to deadhead your roses regularly as well . Once the spent go up blooms start up to form rose pelvic girdle , the hormones in the works change and it will start to put its vim into ripening those roseate rose hip . Deadheading should be done every week , or at a lower limit every two weeks . Continue to clean your pruning shear well with rub alcohol or another cleaning result between industrial plant to prevent the transmitting of diseases .
Divide barbate irises . By July , most of the single - flower bearded fleur-de-lis ( Irisspp . and cvs . , Zones 3–9 ) are finished blooming , and it is a great time tolift and divide them ; just be trusted you do not divide the multiple - blossom or deep - blooming varieties . Bearded iris diaphragm become very congested with old outgrowth and will slowly stop flowering as heavily if not divided . They wish to produce flowers from the newest growth . Make certain to trim down off the spent flower stalking and cut away erstwhile rootstock that are dried and potentially starting to decompose away . Lastly , trim the leaves in tip ‘ A ’ cut before replant . This will help lessen water going during the transplant . Iris rootstalk should not be completely eat up in the territory but partially exposed in the ground . I often utilise gravel or grit to help weigh down the newly plant fleur-de-lis in their new habitation .
shorten back spring - flowering bulb leaf . You’ve already let the foliage of naturalizing bulbs die back to help reenergize the bulbs for next year ’s bloom . Now is the time to transfer any rest dried foliage from your saltation bulbs , especially that of any belatedly - blossom tulip , daffodils , or other narcissus ( Narcissusspp . and cvs . , Zones 3–9 ) .
Order bulb to plant in the dusk . While I do not require to rush along you aside from enjoy the terrific summer weather , now is also the prison term to order fall - planted bulbs . Many cultivator have limited availability of new and rarefied bulb , so bulge your list while sitting on the terrace , and then make your fiat . I peculiarly like the selections available fromBrent and Becky ’s Bulbs , John Scheepers , andOld House Gardens . As a bonus , many bulb mail - order companies offer too soon - order discount .
I hope your July chores are interspersed with sentence for unlax on the terrace , savour a good barbecue , and appreciating the peach around your garden . Do n’t bury that July is dry , so remember to irrigate your new plants and containers soundly for the next few months until the fall rain down return .
— Jason Jorgensen is a landscape couturier in Seattle .
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A well-designed container of vegetables can be just as eye-catching as one of annuals, and the container environment helps keep some produce-loving pests away.Photo: Jason Jorgensen
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Add some new annuals to supplement or replace faded ones, like these ‘Scarlet Ruffles’ zinnias (Zinnia elegans‘Scarlet Ruffles’, annual).Photo: Michelle Gervais
Carrots can be seeded in July.Photo: Jason Jorgensen
Roses are heavy feeders and benefit from regular fertilizing.Photo: Jason Jorgensen
Dividing bearded irises promotes new growth and continued bloom production.Photo: Jason Jorgensen
Your spring bulbs have finished their work for the year, and their faded foliage can now be cut back.Photo: Diana Koehm
Be sure to get your bulb orders in early before favorite varieties are sold out. Pictured: ‘Orange Princess’ tulip (Tulipa‘Orange Princess’, Zones 3–8).Photo: Michelle Gervais
