july

• In the vegetable garden, garlic and onions are ready when their tops bend over. Let them dry in a shady spot for a couple of weeks, then remove tops and store in paper bags in a cool pantry, or leave tops on and braid them for garlic and onion ristras.

• Stake fast-growing plants as needed before they begin to flop over.

• Continue to remove weeds and unwanted grasses. They go to seed faster in hot weather.

• To reduce watering and to help cool the soil around your plants, continue to mulch. Add mulch where plants are drying out too fast.

Garden Tip!!! This is a good time to empty the compost bin and restart it. You'll get a good start on a new batch of compost that will winter over. Compost that is too hot to use on plants at this time can be dug into an unplanted area, or it can be set aside to finish composting. Keep stored compost covered so rain won't leach out nutrients.

Watering. Keep adjusting your watering schedule for hot weather. Generally, water trees and shrubs every 10 to 14 days deeply. Water established beds weekly. This will not be adequate for new plantings or soil that has little organic matter.

WATERING TIP!!! Water trees and shrubs every 10 to 14 days to a depth of three feet. A soaker hose running at the dripline of these plants will do the job. Don't fertilize them any more this year as that would encourage tender growth when the plants need to begin preparing for winter dormancy.

Pruning. If you haven't completed pruning of your spring-flowering shrubs, be sure to do it by July 15th.

Planting. After the 15th, you might try planting another row of green beans for harvest in early September.