July Gardening Tips: The South

July Gardening Tips: The South
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Take advantage of cooler morning temperatures to groom your garden.

* This time of year, working in the garden is nearly impossible at
any time except early morning. As much as possible, work some morning
garden grooming into your schedule.

Deadheading 101 -- Keep deadheading. For the most flowers and tidiest
garden, deadhead daily. Some gardeners take a few minutes each
morning, making it part of their daily routine.
• Deadheading 101 >>
http://www.bhg.com/bhg/story.jhtml?storyid=/templatedata/bhg/story/data/16587.xml&catref=cat1480072

* Keep new plantings well-watered.

Drought Survival -- Check out our lawn drought-survival tips.
• Drought Survival >>
http://www.bhg.com/bhg/story.jhtml?storyid=/templatedata/bhg/how-to/data/15381.xml&catref=cat1480072

* When annuals (especially petunias) or perennials get leggy or
scraggly, cut them back by one-third or more. It will not only make
them look neater, but it also often encourages a fresh flush of
growth and/or bloom.
* With intense heat, it's a good idea not to fertilize roses this
month. High temperatures reduce vigor and therefore lessen the need
for food.
* Fertilize acid-loving plants and any other plants that may be
showing an iron deficiency; for example, young leaves may appear
yellow-green with dark green leaves. Acid-loving plants include
azaleas, gardenias, blueberries, and camellias.

Fertilize Plants in Pots -- Fertilize containers. Constant watering
flushes out nutrients. Feed with either a liquid or granular
fertilizer, synthetic or organic -- your choice.
• Fertilize Plants in Pots >>
http://www.bhg.com/bhg/story.jhtml?storyid=/templatedata/bhg/story/data/12455.xml&catref=cat1480072

* Most vegetables will stop producing in the heat. If they're
dying, remove them. Otherwise, keep them watered and wait for
production to resume in the fall.
* Mow regularly, your best defense against weeds!
* If you have a garden journal, keep up with it. Most garden
journals drop off as the season progresses, but it's a useful tool 12
months of the year.

To read the full article: http://www.bhg.com/bhg/story.jhtml?storyid=/templatedata/bhg/story/data/rgt_south_july_11272002.xml&catref=cat1480072