JULY GARDEN TASKS

UC Berkeley Botanical Garden is hosting a show on the garden grounds with site-specific works by artists, architects, scientists and poets.  The show begins July 14 and will run for six-months.
See website for more details.

• Weed  Especially if you have a home near open space; pull up weeds and grasses at last 30-40 feet from the house to reduce risk of fire.
• Water  Long drinks are better than short and often.  Potted plants need more water in hot weather.  Water in the morning and again in the afternoon when very hot.
• Divide irises  This should be done every three to four years depending on compaction of bulbs.  Pull up bulbs with shovel or pitchfork, ease bulbs apart.  Replant and share extras with neighbors.
• Potted plants  If soil is pulling away from side of pot, water is going straight thru or the soil is hard, it’s time to consider repotting to a larger pot or do some root-pruning to get back in same pot.  Remove pot from the plant, loosen up root compaction and add new soil.  Water well, fertilize and put in afternoon shady spot for a few days so the plant can recover.  If you don’t have the time for this then submerge pot in container of water until the entire root ball is moist.
• Fertilize  Anything in flower or budding can be fertilized now.  Roses especially.  Water well if soil is dry, add fertilizer and water again.
• Remove spent blossoms on all flowering plants.  
• Prune Wisteria back hard (6 to 9 inches from main branches.)  Wisteria will look better and produce a lot of flowers for next year.
• Look for aphids, mites, thrips and whiteflies  Use horticultural oil or other appropriate products to control.

Vegetable and Fruit Garden

• Harvest!  Pick all fruit and vegetables that are ready.  Clean up decaying matter off ground.  It’s good to have a clean environment around all plants. 
• Water  Vegetable and fruit plants need more water than other plants because of  food production.  Don’t forget to water and fertilize your citrus.
• Plant or sow another round of beans, radishes, carrots, salad, cilantro and basil.  Salad, cilantro and basil like a bit of afternoon shade in the heat of the summer.

Read more of Angele's gardening and landscaping tips in the Patch Archives.