Is there anything more satisfying than checking off tasks from your gardening to-do list? Well, there’s a new one that you need to write down this July!
In summer, you face the toughest conditions: extreme heat, humidity, drought, and thunderstorms. All threaten your garden! Sometimes, it can be a real challenge.
Every sunny season, I make sure to protect my plants at all costs. I’ve managed that thanks to these life hacks that kept my yard on track without any complications!
So, are you ready for the tasks that await you in the garden? That’s the spirit, I know you were born ready!
#1 Make Sure To Provide Your Plants With Mulch
You probably started mulching in spring, right? I noticed that three months after applying mulch to my plants, it started to break down and dry up. That’s why you should reconsider doing it again in the summer!
July is the best time to mulch! Apply two inches of compost and three inches of mulch at the base of your plants.
The most important part is that the mulch needs to be natural and without herbicides or weed seeds. Avoid dyed mulch and stone coverings for your plants. Pine bark nuggets, wheat straw, and even grass clippings from your lawn are all great options!
#2 Try A New Way Of Watering, Drip Irrigation
Installing drip irrigation needs to be on your to-do list this July!
You won’t have to worry about watering your plants in the middle of hot, sunny days. You could end up with sunburn, which can be a real nightmare! That’s why irrigation is so important.
It will provide your plants with the hydration they need all day long. The thing that makes this device so special is that you can set a timer to schedule watering before you even wake up! This allows you to get some extra sleep or go outside and take care of other tasks on your list.
There will be no signs of yellow or burned leaves! Plus, water bills will be lower. Pretty cool, right?
You can also DIY your own drip irrigation system at home!
#3 Install Shade Cloth Over Your Flora For Spectacular Growth
Getting a shade cloth should be among the first tasks on your list this summer. Especially if you live in the coastal Southeast area. You know how hot summer days can be there!
There was so much heat in my garden that not a single plant could make it until July. After I put the cover over them, everything changed. My crops recovered and started growing healthily again!
From the moment you install the shade cloth, you’ll see your plants become much stronger. They will get enough sunlight for growing, but at the same time, the cloth will prevent them from getting burned! Interesting how basic fabric can be of such great help to you. Try it for yourself!
#4 Get Your Hands Dirty And Start Planting Fall Crops
If you think it’s too late to plant in July, you’re mistaken. No worries, there’s still work you can do in your garden. Trust me, the list is pretty big!
You can grow many delicious vegetables and herbs such as basil, beans, spinach, garlic, lettuce, and parsley.
They will ripen earlier and have enough time before the frost arrives, which provides them with excellent growing conditions. I know it sounds crazy, but if you plant them from seeds now, you’ll harvest perfectly grown crops in the fall.
#5 Defend Your Garden By Keeping It Pest-Free
Warm weather is the perfect opportunity for pests to search for food in your plants. This can spoil your summer enjoyment and damage your crops! Mosquitoes, ants, termites, and flies are to blame. They love feeding on plant juices and leaves.
The first thing you need to do is keep your garden clean and tidy. Have you noticed fruits falling from the trees? Quickly collect and store them away from the yard. Also start checking for pests daily. If you notice them, use insecticidal soaps. This should help you get rid of them for good!
#6 Don’t Forget To Collect The Sweetest Reward By Harvesting Fruits
It’s finally time for your favorite task – harvesting! July will be the perfect month to go to the garden and gather those freshly homegrown crops.
Leaving fruits on the plants for too long can lead to poor growth. So, as soon as you see they’re ripe and ready, harvest them! That’s why you should consistently inspect your garden. By doing this, you’ll give new fruits the opportunity to grow and shine.
If you stay on track with this regularly, you’ll need a big basket because they will grow like crazy every time you visit them!
July might be a very busy month for you! At least you are doing the things that you love the most. That is the most important thing! Then you can go on vacation in August. You really deserve it!