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Pacific Northwest Gardener: What to Do in July
Deadheading spent flowers, keeping up with watering and starting seeds indoors are the biggest gardening tasks for July
I'm a landscape designer and garden writer living in the coastal Pacific Northwest, and my blog is www.NorthCoastGardening.com. I also write regularly for Fine Gardening Magazine, The Christian Science Monitor, Proven Winners Plants, and Landscaping Network.
I'm a landscape designer and garden writer living in the coastal Pacific... More »
July's garden is coming into its own, with warm temperatures that invite you outside and an abundance of blooms to enjoy. Of course, all that color needs a little bit of care to continue looking great throughout the summer season. Removing spent flowers from roses, dahlias and lavenders is an important step in keeping these plants looking sharp and ready to keep up the summer show.
Watering is also key during hot, dry periods in the Pacific Northwest. Even though our winters and springs are wet, our summers are dry enough to call for supplemental watering of flowering perennials and vegetables. Choosing a stylish hose is a good idea, because garden hoses are usually visible in the landscape, so they become as much a part of the decor as chairs and tables. The last thing to consider doing in July is sowing seeds indoors of fall crops and greens. By planning now, you can ensure a long season of beauty and harvest even into winter.
Watering is also key during hot, dry periods in the Pacific Northwest. Even though our winters and springs are wet, our summers are dry enough to call for supplemental watering of flowering perennials and vegetables. Choosing a stylish hose is a good idea, because garden hoses are usually visible in the landscape, so they become as much a part of the decor as chairs and tables. The last thing to consider doing in July is sowing seeds indoors of fall crops and greens. By planning now, you can ensure a long season of beauty and harvest even into winter.
| Remove spent flowers from roses. As rose blooms fade and the petals turn brown, it's important to deadhead, or trim off the old blooms. When dead flowers are left on a rose, the plant uses up precious energy creating fruit, which in this case would be rose hips. This results in fewer blooms and an early dormant season. By pruning off these old blossoms, you direct the rose to continue blooming throughout the summer. Simply cut off the spent flower or flower cluster right above a leaf with five leaflets. It's best to choose an outward-facing leaf, because the rose will grow a new shoot from the dormant bud hidden at the base of the leaf. Learn more about growing the Sally Holmes rose |
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Deadhead dahlias as each bloom finishes. Dahlias are one of the most profusely flowering plants in the garden, but in order to keep them going for a long season, it's critical to remove spent flowers regularly. Just like with roses, by taking off the old blooms you send a signal to the plant that the season is not yet over.
To deadhead, just trim each spent flower back to the main stem. When all of the flowers on a stem have finished, cut the stem back to a set of leaves so the dahlia will continue putting out fresh, new growth.
To deadhead, just trim each spent flower back to the main stem. When all of the flowers on a stem have finished, cut the stem back to a set of leaves so the dahlia will continue putting out fresh, new growth.
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Shear lavender after bloom to encourage a bushy habit. Lavender can be a short-lived shrub in the garden, because it has a tendency to become woody on the inside and break. Because lavender doesn't come back from hard regenerative pruning, the best way to keep your lavender plants looking full and bushy is to shear them immediately after bloom.
While you never want to cut into bare wood, by shearing off the spent flowers and about a half-inch of foliage, you encourage the plant to sprout new, more compact shoots. Shearing also keeps the plant evenly shaped.
To shear, use handheld hedging shears and gently clip off all the spent blooms back to the fluffy mound of foliage beneath. Again, don't prune more than ½ to 1 inch of foliage off, as the lavender won't come back from shearing to bare wood.
While you never want to cut into bare wood, by shearing off the spent flowers and about a half-inch of foliage, you encourage the plant to sprout new, more compact shoots. Shearing also keeps the plant evenly shaped.
To shear, use handheld hedging shears and gently clip off all the spent blooms back to the fluffy mound of foliage beneath. Again, don't prune more than ½ to 1 inch of foliage off, as the lavender won't come back from shearing to bare wood.
Keep up with your watering. While established trees, shrubs and ornamental grasses need little supplemental water to do well, most flowering perennials and vegetables need regular watering to continue doing their best all summer. The Dramm hoses shown come in a variety of designer colors and will look stylish even when not in use.
It's best to water in the morning, when the plants are already wet with dew, since watering in the afternoon is more likely to cause fungal diseases to spread. When in doubt, water more deeply but less often, as this promotes a deep root system in your plants.
For more cool gardening gear, check out 20 Great Garden Gadgets.
It's best to water in the morning, when the plants are already wet with dew, since watering in the afternoon is more likely to cause fungal diseases to spread. When in doubt, water more deeply but less often, as this promotes a deep root system in your plants.
For more cool gardening gear, check out 20 Great Garden Gadgets.
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Start seeds indoors for fall crops. Fall vegetables and greens, such as cabbage, kale, spinach, lettuce and broccoli, can be started indoors under seed-starting lights or in a very sunny window. Even if you have a bright, warm space to start your seeds, it's best to use a seed-warming mat under your seedlings to keep them at a consistently warm temperature. Once the seeds have sprouted, be sure to turn them occasionally so they don't lean towards the sun.
See more ideas for your Pacific Northwest garden
See more ideas for your Pacific Northwest garden
Ideabook published on June 30, 2012.
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