Garden Calendar - July

July is the time for holidays and vacations. However, gardeners and growers don't have much time for lounging around, and when they do get a free moment, they immediately think about what could still be improved. In July, it's possible to make the last sowings of seeds for certain types of vegetables in cleared beds after harvested crops. After a scorching day, most plants require generous watering. In severe drought, give moisture to fruit trees as well. Your lawn will also appreciate a few drops of water, as it grows more slowly than usual during hot days. In warm summer weather, mow your lawn higher so it dries out more slowly. Don't forget to rest too – it's vacation time after all. Sitting in the garden with a bowl of your own produce is the most beautiful reward for all your growing efforts.

What seeds to sow in July?

July is the month when you can make the last sowings of many types of vegetables so they still have time to ripen. You can sow, for example, winter onion sets, broccoli, some pea varieties, Chinese cabbage year-round variety Monaco, dill, early carrots, parsley, and iceberg lettuce – year-round variety Larsen. July is the deadline for sowing most of these vegetable types, so it's necessary to speed up seed germination as much as possible. You can contribute to rapid seed germination through regular watering.

Take care of hanging planters in July too – the flowers will reward you richly for your care.

What garden tasks not to forget in July?

In July, you need to regularly harvest and process your crops. Plants that aren't yet ripening need regular watering, fertilizing, hoeing, weeding, and possibly treatment against diseases and pests. You still need to pinch out side shoots on indeterminate tomato varieties.

July is the month when you need to pay increased attention to strawberry plants, even though this year's strawberry harvest was collected long ago. For strawberry plants you're keeping in the bed for next year, you need to cut off excess runners and possibly remove leaves affected by leaf spot – just leave the plant crowns. Finally, water the strawberries thoroughly and fertilize lightly with strawberry fertilizer. If you don't have strawberries in your beds yet, July is the ideal month for planting them.

Don't shorten the runners of everbearing strawberry varieties in July – they'll produce more strawberries on them.

July is the right time for summer pruning of some fruit tree types. Perform summer pruning of tree crowns in July on cherries and sour cherries from which you've already harvested. You can also shorten excessively vigorous shoots on apple and pear trees.

Fighting Diseases and Pests Year-Round - What to Do in July

In the warm weather that typically prevails in July, it's essential to protect plums, prunes, and apple trees against codling moths, which thrive in these conditions. As a preventive measure, you can hang light traps or pheromone traps on these fruit trees; yellow sticky traps will also help. If you discover white, flat eggs on the fruit, approximately 1 mm in size, it's necessary to resort to chemical protection with sprays. However, chemical sprays should be the last possible solution. After all, one reason you grow crops in your garden is so they don't contain as many harmful substances from chemical sprays as the fruit and vegetables sold in stores. When planning plant protection against diseases and pests, check out our e-shop, where we have bio preparations ready for you that comply with organic farming - meaning without the use of chemicals.

Lavender has long ceased to be "just" an herb; it has become a popular ornament in many gardens.

Take Care of Ornamental Plants in July Too

Ornamental plants are a joy to behold in July, as most of them are in full bloom. Flower beds, boxes, and hanging containers are all flowering. To keep them pleasing to the eye for as long as possible, fertilize them regularly according to the recommended dosage on the packaging of specific preparations, and give them plenty of water. Remove faded flowers. You can also pick flowers from the bed for a vase. Not just for vases - you can also pick some types of herbs that are commonly planted today as ornamental flowers. Lavender is a prime example. Lavender beds now beautify many gardens and public spaces. Cut flowering lavender intended for drying immediately when the flowers begin to turn the typical blue-violet color; if harvested later, the tiny flowers might fall off. Dry the cut stems in bunches hung in a warm, airy, and preferably dark place. You can use dried lavender stems to decorate gifts, scent your closets, or freshen your home. Even after drying, lavender doesn't lose its pleasant fragrance.

Lavender retains its pleasant fragrance even after drying.

What to Do with Indoor Plants During July?

July is the month when you should provide your houseplants with the best possible conditions for vigorous growth. The ideal solution is spending time in fresh air outdoors. Don't expose plants to excessive heat, as they're not used to it from the interior, so they could easily get sunburned. During their summer stay outside, fertilize the plants and water them regularly. In an outdoor location, most plants grow vigorously and their overall physical condition improves. Strong plants will then better survive the winter period, which is always a major stress test for them. Even if you care for your plants in the best way possible, you won't be able to ensure enough sunlight for them in winter. If you don't have the possibility to keep plants outdoors for the summer, at least provide them with as much light as possible and occasional fertilizing.

Cacti and Succulents Also Follow the Calendar - What Benefits Them in July?

July is another in the series of months when growers peek into greenhouses, cold frames, or onto windowsills with amazement to discover what has just bloomed. Believe it, even on a windowsill, real treasures can bloom. As a reward for the abundance of flowers, provide cacti and succulents with plenty of light, water, and a bit of fertilizer. Water cacti only when direct sunlight isn't shining on them, preferably early in the morning or evening. And don't forget the cactus grower's advice - water cacti before a storm!

What Else Is Good to Know in July? Self-Watering Planters Will Water for You.

Self-watering planters are ideal for people who don't want to give up a vacation away from home due to garden care. Self-watering planters have a double bottom. In the upper part, the substrate with the plant is classically placed, and the lower container serves as a water reservoir. Water is delivered to the plant roots gradually using textile wicks that absorb water from the lower container and deliver it to the needed place. Most self-watering planters have a water level indicator, so you can easily tell when water needs to be refilled.

If you don't have self-watering planters and you've assigned flower watering as one of the combat tasks to a relative or friend, make their work easier by grouping the plants in one place.