Rocky Mountain Gardener: Things To Do in July

December 20, 2018

The heat is on now, as summer hits full stride in the coastal West. Warm days and evenings invite entertaining family and friends outside, so you’ll want to keep your garden looking lovely and relaxing all summertime.

Jocelyn H. Chilvers

Water plants economically: Hot, dry, windy weather could be difficult on crops, but it is important to be water wise from the West. Fix your irrigation system as necessary to create sure that plants are getting enough water, although not wasting water. The key is to target water from the plant’s root zone instead of broadcast watering.

Jocelyn H. Chilvers

New plants: New plants have to be watered more frequently until their root systems develop and will source water in a deeper soil degree. More based plants perform well when watered deeply, but less frequently. When to water? Check the soil close to the plant’s root ball ; if it is dry in the surface but damp at a thickness of 3 inches, then there’s no need to water.

Jocelyn H. Chilvers

Lawns: For yard areas, consider inserting a screwdriver into the ground; if it goes in easily, don’t water yet. Check with your regional water supplier or municipality for information on present water-use restrictions and conservation tips.

Jocelyn H. Chilvers

Cool off with white flowering plants: White blossoms seem crisp and cool at a summer garden, together with prominence extended into the day. Try out Echinacea purpurea ‘White Swan’ or ‘White Lustre’ — two coneflower varieties that bloom for several weeks from mid to late summer and are hardy to elevations up to 7,000 feet. Another extended bloomer is Phlox paniculata ‘David,’ a pure-white type of tall garden phlox that includes large, dense panicles and is resistant to powdery mildew. Veronica spicata ‘Icicle’ is a tall type of speedwell with white flower spikes reaching 2-3 feet in height. Deadhead the blossoms to prolong the blooming period. Both the phlox and the speedwell are hardy to elevations of 8,000 feet, and all 3 perennials have moderate water requirements.

Jocelyn H. Chilvers

Fertilize flowering water plants: Water is obviously welcome in arid climates, and a small water garden may be the ultimate refreshment during the intense heat of July. It takes a lot of electricity for water plants to blossom nonstop, and they will perform best if they’re on a normal schedule for feeding.

Jocelyn H. Chilvers

Hardy and tropical water lilies (Nymphaea spp. ) as well as lotus (Nelumbo spp. ) should be fertilized every four weeks during the summer with a tablet-form fertilizer formulated specifically for aquatic plants. The amount and quality of flowers are well worth the effort.

The Brickman Group, Ltd..

Enjoy fresh herbs: Many herbs are in their prime now and are the perfect garden to table harvest for instant use in salads, as garnishes or to taste grilled meats. Fresh herbs are also excellent when combined with other flavoring agents such as salt, sugar and fat.

Jocelyn H. Chilvers

Lavender, fennel or even sage could be steeped in a very simple syrup. Use them to flavor lemonade, sparkling water or cocktails. Whir collectively kosher rosemary and salt in a spice grinder to create an aromatic salt for sprinkling on berries or for flavoring the advantage of a cocktail glass. Herb butter believe parsley, chive or tarragon — is a fantastic finishing touch for broiled vegetables. Experiment with proportions until you reach the taste note you prefer; it is all fantastic summertime fun.