July Garden Tips
“I drifted into a summer-nap under the hot shade of July, serenaded by a cicadae lullaby, to drowsy-warm dreams of distant thunder.” – Terri Guillemets
Come July you may be tempted by that hammock in the shade, swaying gently in the breeze… now is the time you can comfortably sit back for a moment and enjoy the fruits of your labor. But remember, there are still plenty of things to do in your garden – Don’t snooze for too long!
- Remember the Basics: If it ever stops raining, July brings with it some of the hottest days of summer so don’t forget to thoroughly water your container and vegetable gardens. If you have travel plans, ask a friend to water for you – the worst feeling is coming back from a great trip to find your beloved plants have all wilted due to neglect.
- Don’t Forget Deadheading: If you take some time to remove and prune off spent blooms, the plant can use that energy for more flower production versus seed. Deadheading encourages your perennials to rebloom, extending their bloom time and providing a more attractive display overall.
- Take Garden Walks: We are so lucky in Madison and Dane County to have gorgeous gardens overflowing with inspiration at our fingertips! Bring your sketchbook or camera along and document plant combinations that work, interesting cultivars that you may find, cool wildlife sightings, etc. The UW Arboretum, Allen Centennial Gardens and Olbrich Botanical Gardens are all great places to find a huge variety of unique gardens that could apply to your home landscape.
- Speaking of Garden Walks: This weekend is Olbrich’s Home & Garden Tour! It is a great opportunity to get into exceptional gardens that normally wouldn’t be open to the public. Avant Gardening is proud to be a sponsor of this fun event. For more information, visit: olbrich.org/events/homegardentour.cfm
- Harvest Your Garden Bounty: Many fruits and vegetables ripen up this month! Be sure to get in your garden to start picking and preserving your harvest – try making some jams, salsa or pasta sauce to use up multiple different kinds of veggies. You can also plant a second round of vegetables to harvest in fall, consider: arugula, broccoli, chard, kale, lettuce, spinach, radish, carrots or green beans.