University of Vermont Extension
Department of Plant and Soil Science
Summer News
Article
CLEANING ANNUALS AND OTHER
JULY GARDENING TIPS
Charlie Nardozzi,
Horticulturist and
Leonard Perry, UVM Extension
Horticulturist
Cleaning
summer annual flowers, protecting plants from birds, and watching for
pests are
some of the gardening activities for this month.
Continue
planting vegetables such as radishes, carrots, and lettuce so that
you'll have
a continual supply of these vegetables into the fall. Seeds will
germinate
quickly in the warm soils, but so will the weeds. Be diligent about
weeding,
watering, and thinning your new seedlings.
Although
summer annuals such as petunias used to benefit from a mid-season
pruning in
the past, most newer cultivars (cultivated varieties) either keep a
compact
habit or spread nicely as desired. Some are self-cleaning,
meaning their flowers
fall off without needing you to prune them off or
“deadhead.” If flowers on these or other annuals such
as
marigolds and zinnias remain, deadheading them after bloom will keep
the plants
attractive, more bushy, and help them to bloom better.
If
you're going on vacation and are concerned about your container plants,
here
are some tips for keeping them healthy. Water containers thoroughly
before
leaving and move them into a shady location where they won't dry out as
fast.
Place smaller containers in basins with a few inches of water that will
slowly
be absorbed by the plants while you're gone.
If gone for a longer period, line up a plant sitter but make sure you
go
over with them all the details you want done.
Grouping potted plants makes it easier for your sitter to not miss any.
Protect
cherry trees and blueberry bushes from hungry birds. As these fruits
ripen, the
birds will be attracted to them. Place bird netting over the trees and
bushes,
propping it up with poles or stakes so the netting doesn't lay on the
plants. Make sure it is fastened to the ground,
otherwise birds may get underneath and not be able to get out.
Otherwise, check plants daily for any birds
that have slipped under the net.
Check
tomato plants for large, green-striped horned caterpillars. A few can
cause
lots of damage, so hand pick and destroy them when found. Spray the
organic
pesticide B.t. (Bacillus thuringiensis) to control large infestations.
Protect
your squash vines from the squash vine borer.
These clear-winged moths lay their eggs on the stems and the hatching
larvae bore into the vines, causing the plant to wilt and possibly
die. Apply the organic pesticide B.t. every 3 or 4
days during July and early August to kill hatching larvae before they
enter the
stems. A thin layer of wood ashes or
moth flakes scattered around plants may discourage egg laying.
If
these don’t work on the squash vine borer, slit the vine stem
where it is
wilting and follow back until you find the feeding grub. Remove
and destroy it, then bury the end of
the vine so it hopefully will root and resume growth.
Summer
is a great time to visit perennial nurseries to see what is in bloom,
and add
to your collection. As virtually all the
plants are in pots, it is fine to plant them now, just add some compost
at
planting, mulch, and keep them well-watered.
There are many local specialists you can find online under Vermont
Perennial Display gardens
(pss.uvm.edu/ppp/vpdgli.html).
(Charlie Nardozzi is a nationally known horticulturist,
author, gardening consultant, and garden coach
(CharlieNardozzi.com).
Return to
Perry's Perennial
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