Avoid summer heat; do gardening during the evening hours in July

July can have hot, long days and many garden chores are not as enjoyable as planting and harvesting times are. During July everything in the garden is growing -- including weeds.

Getting into the thick of things to pull out the weeds may take some effort. But if you leave the garden alone at this point, the weeds will take over. The easiest way to deal with this chore is to pull new weeds daily or weekly. Otherwise you may find yourself looking at a large job that seems almost impossible. Consider doing your chores in the cool of the evening rather than the heat of the day.

Depending upon what types of fruits and vegetables you're growing, July can be a prime month for four legged pest problems. Rabbits enjoy salad greens and tomatoes as much as we do, birds will devour your fruit and deer may nibble on everything they find. This month you may find yourself trying to outsmart the local wildlife. You may need to erect a fence around your garden, if you haven't already, or drape bird netting over your blueberry bushes.

Houseplants that have been set outdoors may need more water than they did indoors. They can dry out rapidly in hot, summer breezes. Propagate houseplants by taking cuttings from vigorously growing plants. Place the cut end in rooting media, such as perlite, vermiculite or peat moss soil mix. Enclose in a plastic bag and keep out of direct sunlight.

When watering lawns, you should apply 1 to 1.5 inches of water in a single application per week. Keep newly established lawn watered during dry weather. Allow water to penetrate deeply into the soil rather than watering frequently and lightly. Frequent, light sprinklings encourage roots to stay shallow, making them more susceptible to drought. Bluegrass is a cool-season plant and is under stress during hot, dry summers. Without water, bluegrass will go dormant and turn brown until more favorable conditions arrive in autumn. Mow grass one-half inch higher than usual during the dry, summer months to help conserve soil moisture. Do not remove clippings from the lawn unless the grass is excessively tall or weedy. Clippings return some nutrients to the soil and do not add to thatch buildup.

In the vegetable garden, supplement rainfall so plants get 1 to 1.5 inches of water per week. Mulch the garden to control weeds and conserve soil moisture. Start seeds of broccoli, cabbage and Brussels sprouts to transplant later for a fall harvest. Harvest crops such as tomatoes, squash, peppers, beans and cucumbers frequently to encourage continued production. Harvest summer squash while small and tender for best quality. Broccoli will form edible side shoots after the main head is removed. Make sure potato tubers, carrot shoulders and onion bulbs are covered with soil to prevent development of green color and off flavors. Applying a layer of mulch will help keep them covered. Guide the runners of your squash plants so they don't travel where you don't want them. Large vines are hard to move without breaking the stems.

Growing Tips Lavender - News


Avoid summer heat; do gardening during the evening hours in July

They will grow back and re-flower. Pinch off coleus flowers. Is your perennial garden lacking July color? Consider adding hollyhock, globe thistle, butterfly weed, coneflower, daylily, red hot poker, Oriental lily, lavender, summer phlox,



Strawberry mini-desserts for Wimbledon
Strawberry mini-desserts for Wimbledon

It's Wimbledon fortnight and everyone's in the mood for our finest English strawberries and cream, and with shops facing a shortage this year there's no better time to grow your own. Follow Francine Raymond's growing tips for gourmet success and



Buying local conserves resources

You can find things like lavender, honey, vegetables, bread and cheeses, to name just a few items. And yet (I'm ashamed to say) I sometimes still find myself buying poor-quality produce from big box stores. And I know I'm not alone.



Kim Cooper column June 24, 2011

Their 6th Annual Great Lakes Lavender Festival takes place Saturday and Sunday, July 2-3 from 10 am to 5 pm with field tours, distillation demonstration, growing tips, harvest demonstrations, and many quality offerings from local vendors.



Herbal heaven

While she cooked, Potter shared tips on growing and storing herbs and spices. “The best time to plant your herbs is late May and the first part of June,” she said. “Herbs are like an old Marilyn Monroe movie — 'Some Like It Hot.' They like it hot;




Gardening Tips : Growing Lavender Plants : Soilbank

Growing lavender plants requires planting them in good compost or potting soil, putting them in a place with full, hot sun and trimming them back in the fall for a lush growth the following spring. Grow lavender plants in a garden, which repel insects and provide a lovely aroma, with advice from a sustainable gardener in this free video on gardening. Expert: Yolanda Vanveen Contact: www.vanveenbulbs.com Bio: Yolanda Vanveen is sustainable gardener who lives in Kalama, Wash.


Growing Tips Lavender - Bookshelf

Lavender, How to Grow and Use the Fragrant Herb

Lavender, How to Grow and Use the Fragrant Herb

Root rot is one of the few hazards ot growing lavender. They won't tolerate standing in wet soil, and it's helpful to plant them in a raised bed, ...

Herbs of the Bible and how to grow them

Herbs of the Bible and how to grow them

Growing Tips Lavender is easy to grow in good, light sandy loam, well-drained, and fairly rich garden soil. It prefers full sun but tolerates light shade. ...

Designing an herb garden

Designing an herb garden

Growing Tips Lavender needs excellent drainage and air circulation, especially in hot, humid climates, where it is prone to sudden wilts. ...

Growing and using lavender

Growing and using lavender

There are now more than 170 titles in this series, and their remarkable popularity reflects the common desire of country and city dwellers alike to cultivate ...

1001 hints & tips for your garden

1001 hints & tips for your garden

You can also use a dormant oil spray before growth begins in spring. t> Bay Trees LAVENDER Give lavender full sun and light, well-drained, slightly alkaline ...

Media Info Directory


Growing Lavender Tips
Lavender growing tips, such as over-wintering suggestions can be gleaned below. ... Lavender plants tolerate many growing conditions, but thrive in warm, well drained soil. ...

Growing Lavender: {Tip Sheet} : TipNut.com
However most types of lavender grow well in containers. ... Each Wednesday receive the latest tips, projects & creative ideas from Tipnut delivered ...

LAVENDER: Choosing,Planting,Growing,Pruning,Harvesting and Using
Explains the differences between the many varieties of the plant and how to grow, care for and use them. Includes photos of each type.

Lavender Plants - Growing Lavender Anywhere
Tips for growing, pruning, caring for and using lavender plants. ... While you can grow lavender in USDA Zone 5, it is unlikely you will ever have a lavender hedge. ...

Tips about Growing Lavender
Some tips to grow the different species of Lavender, allthough lavender is a not a very demanding herb some basic issues must be taken into account to prevent faillure