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Gardening Jobs for July

Yellow or undersize foliage on your trees indicates a lack of nourishment. Feed them regularly, but don't overdo it.

If you have any houseplants sitting directly in the window, make sure the light is filtered or the plant is moved to a site out of direct sunlight. The windowpane intensifies the heat, and you don't want to scorch your plants.

Fertilize your houseplants frequently to ensure vigorous growth.

Extend the indoor life of your cut flowers by putting them in a solution that is one part water, one part clear soft drink (such as 7-Up, Sprite, etc.), and a few drops chlorine bleach.

Snip off the old flower clusters from rambler roses to encourage them to bloom all summer.

If you have thick, thriving phlox, thin the plants to four or five stalks per clump to provide adequate ventilation and avoid mildew.

You can sow a fall crop of bush beans now. Plant seeds two inches deep to protect them from the hot Sun. You can sow other vegetable seeds for an autumn yield, too, by planting them just a little deeper than you did in the spring. The best time to plant is after a rain shower.

If your celery is doing well, tie the stalks together to keep them from sprawling.

If you missed your peas' peak period, you can still pick, dry, and shell them for use in winter soups.

Don't water your melons at the base of the stems. Doing so can cause rot. Build up a little earth around the stems to keep water away.

Once melon vines have set three or four fruits, remove any new blossoms. The remaining fruits will benefit from this, and you will still have plenty.

Don't tug too hard on your raspberries when picking. A ripe raspberry will leave the vine willingly.

Remember to continuously harvest your fruits and vegetables to prolong growth and production and avoid attracting pests.

Harvest summer squash when it's young and tender (8 inches).

Newly planted trees and shrubs need 1 to 2 thorough soakings per week and lawns need 1 to 1.5 inches of water per week. Soak, don't sprinkle.

Annuals and perennials can be planted at any time to fill in blank spaces in the garden.

After broccoli head is harvested, the plant continues to grow side shoots.

Lightly fertilize tomatoes and peppers. Don't over-fertilize.

Water your plants early in the morning or late in the day to reduce the water lost to evaporation.

When there is less than an inch of rain in a week, water extra.

Fertilize your container plants with a water-soluble solution every 2 weeks.

Remove any dead flowers from your annuals and perennials to encourage new growth.

Remember to inspect all your plants for any insect or disease damage; treat plants when necessary.

Slugs? Put out shallow dishes of beer; handpick in the early morning.

Cover your fruit trees and shrubs with netting to prevent birds from damaging the fruit.

Start sowing vegetable seeds for your fall garden: carrots, beets, turnips, collards, Chinese cabbage, snap beans, radish, kohlrabi, endive, kale, rutabagas, and summer squashes.

Set out broccoli, cabbage, and cauliflower transplants for your fall garden.

Pinch herbs such as mint, oregano, and savory.

Stake tall plants to help give them support and to prevent damage from the wind or rain.

Continue to plant crops such as beans and sweet corn successively to ensure a continuous harvest.

Prevent weeds from seeding; this will mean fewer weeds next year. Pull weeds as they grow and use mulch in your flower beds to prevent them from sprouting.

The best time to do gardening chores is in the early morning or late in the day after supper; that way, you can avoid the heat of the day.

Finish pruning spring-flowering shrubs by mid-month.

Garlic and onions are ready when their tops start to bend over. Remove their tops after they've dried for a couple weeks and store in a cool place.

Be alert for summer drought conditions. Be sure to water your flowerbeds and vegetable gardens deeply two to three times a week.

Mulching is an important job to keep up with in July. Organic mulches break down over time, so be sure to check the mulch around your plants. Keep a 3 to 4 inch layer of mulch around your plants to retain moisture. Also keep a thick layer of mulch around the roots of trees and shrubs.

During these warmer months, raise the mowing height to 2.5 to 3 inches. Water your lawn 1 inch of water per week to ensure healthy growth.

Harvest vegetables and fruits regularly to keep your garden productive.

Plant transplants of tomatoes, eggplants, and peppers. You can also start seeding lima beans, pumpkins, and squash.

Late this month, plant iris and daylilies. Prepare soil now for fall planting.

Dig up and divide crowded spring-blooming bulbs whenever they are dormant.

Generally, trees and shrubs need deep watering every 10 to 14 days to a depth of 3 inches with a hose at the roots. Do not fertilize.

Stop fertilizing trees and shrubs so that they can start preparing for winter dormancy.

Remove any faded or dead flowers to encourage new growth.

Remove annual flowers that have finished flowering.

Feed your roses mid-month to encourage more flowering.

Water your containers twice a day. Apply a slow-release fertilizer.

If white crust develops in containers, it's salt build-up; remove and water heavily to flush out salts.