July Gardening Activities – Region 6
Tropical and Sub-Tropical Gardens
States in this region include: Hawaii, Florida (southern), Texas (southern), Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands and other US territories.
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Inspect your irrigation system regularly and repair any problems. Make sure sprinklers are running the proper length of time, as well as watering deeply and responsibly so they’re not wasting water.
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Use a
drip irrigation
system for watering containers, planters and baskets. It’s a great way to conserve water, while providing your planters with the attention they need.
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Wear loose, lightweight, light-colored
clothing
when working in the garden. (And don’t forget the hat, sunscreen and water bottle!) Early morning and evening hours are the coolest times to work outside. Remember to pace yourself – the garden will be there tomorrow.
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Got mulch? If your landscape beds haven’t been mulched yet, it’s time to get it done! A few inches of organic mulch is all that’s needed to keep weeds at bay, conserve needed soil moisture and protect roots from the hot, scorching sun. (A word to the wise: Never mound mulch around the crown or trunk of plants; keep it a few inches away.)
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Start your tomato and pepper seedlings now so they’re ready to transplant to the garden later this summer. (You’ll be harvesting crops through early spring 2009!) Consider growing your crops in
planter boxes.
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Keep your annuals looking their colorful best: Deadhead any spent flowers (to encourage more blooms); keep up with watering (check beds and containers daily); and liquid-feed (according to label directions) to encourage additional flowers through the season.
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Spice up landscape beds or planters with annuals like coleus, celosia and torenia. Or add
lantanas
or pentas to your property for some pretty blooms that are sure to give you the butterflies. (Make sure all new plants are well-watered for successful establishment.)
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Poinsettias
need a little care in the summer garden. Continue to fertilize monthly, and prune back new growth to encourage bushier plants. Poinsettias prefer a sunny location with adequate soil moisture. The short days of fall will produce the colorful bracts that are enjoyed during winter and the holiday season.
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Plant a palm! It’s time to take advantage of the warm, rainy season and add more palms to the landscape. (Large palms should be braced for support.)
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