07/16/2026
July garden tips:
Crusted Soil:
Heavy summer rains can cause bare garden soil to form a crust. Lightly scratch the soil with a long-handled cultivator to loosen the soil and allow air and moisture to pe*****te. Mulch can become matted and should be loosened as well.
Propagate Shrubs with Cuttings:
Take softwood cuttings of shrubs such as buddleia, weigela, rose-of-sharon and roses. Place them in pots of moist sand or potting soil, then cover them with a plastic bag, glass jar or large plastic pop bottle, creating a mini-greenhouse. When strong roots have formed, move to a protected spot in the garden.
Do Not Fertilize Your Perennials:
At this time of year, most perennials neither need nor want to be fertilized. An exception would be delphiniums which will appreciate a feeding after their first bloom period. Use a balanced organic, water soluble fertilizer.
Moisture + Heat:
The combination of lots of moisture followed by heat will cause w**d and flower seeds to germinate quickly and prolifically. Pull the w**ds and unwanted seedlings when they appear. The garden will look tidier for your effort and the unwanted seedlings won’t be taking nutrients away from your plants.
