- Transplant new chrysanthemum plants.
- Start a compost pile.
- Side dress rhubarb with well-rotted manure or humus from the compost pile.
- Plant seeds of early cabbage, ornamental kale, and broccoli in cell packs early in the month for transplanting in early August.
- Continue pulling weeds. Put them in the compost pile.
- Train staked tomatoes to one or two vines by removing all other branches as soon as they appear.
- Thoroughly water your newly planted trees and shrubs.
- As perennials finish blooming, cut off the blooms and fertilize the plants.
- Stake perennials as needed.
- Apply mulches around trees, shrubs, perennials and annuals to maintain soil moisture and an even soil temperature. Cover the soil 2 inches thick. Keep mulch away from the trunks of trees and shrubs.
- Prop branches of heavily loaded fruit trees.
- Renovate established strawberry plantings.
- Pinch established chrysanthemums to develop fuller and stockier plants early in the month.
- Harvest vegetables regularly for continued production.
- Remove spent flowers from annual flowers to keep them flowering.
- Divide clumps of crowded iris and Oriental poppies.
- Continue to mow the lawn at 2-1/2 inches.
- Water the lawn and garden deeply or don’t water at all.
- Mulch your roses.
- Stay cool!
Adapted from “Seeds of Hope… Harvest of Pride!” – Gardener’s Checklist, www.bright.net/~gardens/index.html