University of Vermont Extension
Department of Plant and Soil Science
Summer News
Article
PROPER PRUNING AND OTHER JULY GARDENING TIPS
Charlie Nardozzi, Senior Horticulturist
National Gardening Association, and
Dr. Leonard Perry, Extension Professor
University of Vermont
Proper cutting of roses, pruning strawberry runners, and washing produce
are some of the gardening tips for this month.
Any fertilizer you've applied to annuals in containers has probably
washed out of the soil in rain, so give them another dose. Clip off
spent blooms and cut some stems way back to encourage lots of new
growth. Do this every couple of weeks.
If you come home to a dried-out container planting, don't despair. Some
plants will wilt dramatically, but come back once moistened. If the
water you add from the top pours right through, place the entire
container in a saucer or tray of water and let the water soak into the
soil from below. If it's still hot and sunny out, place the plant in a
shady, cool spot for a few days. Remove damaged foliage and see if it
develops new growth.
Just like spring-flowering bulbs, lilies need their foliage to make food
for next year's flowers. Unlike spring bulbs, the flowers bloom on the
same stems as the leaves. So when you cut lily flowers, don't cut long
stems and remove too many leaves.
Cut the shortest stems possible when cutting rose flowers because the
more foliage you leave on the plant, the better for photosynthesis, and
the faster it will rebloom. Experts now recommend cutting above a
3-leaflet leaf instead of lower down the stem at a 5-leaflet leaf.
Avoid pruning other woody plants after early July, as this will just
stimulate new growth that may not harden properly before winter. Spring
is the best time to prune most fruit trees and woody ornamental trees
and shrubs. Likewise, avoid fertilizing these plants after early July.
Strawberry plants are in very active growth these days, and new runners
will proliferate. Remove runners to keep plants spaced according to the
method you're using so plants will put their energy into producing
future fruit instead of new runners. Left alone, a bed will turn into a
mass of foliage and few berries.
Strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, cherries, and other fresh, very
perishable fruit should be kept refrigerated and not washed until
serving time. Green vegetables, however, such as broccoli, peas, and
beans, as well as beets and carrots, should be washed before storing in
the refrigerator.
If you haven't thinned beets and carrots yet, it's time. Even if you've
thinned once, take another look because these crops need space for their
roots to fill out. If you have the space, sow seed for later crops,
covering at least the carrot seed with fine-textured soil. Don't let the
soil dry out.
To help your tomato plants direct all their energy into growing the
fruit that's already set, prune off some of the vines that contain
flowers but no young fruit. Pinch off suckers growing from where the
branches connect to the main stem (the leaf axils). Keep moisture levels
even to prevent blossom end rot. Renew mulch if necessary.
Return to Perry's Perennial
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