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Mississippi Master Gardener

July Garden Calendar

Planting

  • Plant Pumpkin seeds for a Halloween harvest.
  • Use Portulaca or Marigolds to fill in bare spots of flower bed.
  • Root cuttings of Azalea, Boxwood, Camellia, Gardenia, Holly, and Poinsettia in coarse sand. Cuttings should be 4-6 inches from new growth with lower leaves removed.
  • Plant now for color in the fall: Marigold, Zinnia, Celosia, and Joseph's Coat.
  • Daylilies may still be planted.
  • Start cuttings for house plants: Ivy, Wandering Jew, Philodendron, and Begonia.
  • Plant fall vegetables: Cabbage, Parsley, and Collards.

 

Fertilizing

  • Do not fertilize Camellias after July 1.
  • Fertilize Chrysanthemums around July 15.
  • Fertilize all of the garden as you did in March.
  • Fertilize lawns with well balanced fertilizer.

 

Pruning

  • Remove faded flowers from Crape myrtle to encourage a second blooming.
  • Pinch back Mums before July 15.Cut back broken or withered fern fronds. New growth will appear for fall garden.
  • All Vegetables must be picked regularly to ensure continued bearing.
  • When cutting Boxwood into a hedge, make sure the base is wider than the top to allow sunlight to reach base of plants.
  • Remove dead limbs from trees and shrubs.
  • Roses should be pruned to encourage fall blooms.
  • Remove flowers from basil and cut mint to encourage new shoots.

 

Mulch

  • Check mulch on Azaleas and Camellias mulch should be at least 2 inches thick.
  • Zinnias and Mums must be kept mulched to reduce cultivation necessary and conserve moisture.

 

Miscellaneous

  • Water Azaleas well because they are setting flower buds now.
  • Cut grass at 2.5 - 3 inches during hot weather.
  • Water the whole garden deeply once a week.

 

Home Accent

Never leave house plants in a closed home over a vacation. Either water and place under a shady tree or have a friendly neighbor come in and water them for you.

 

In Bloom

Caladium, Cleome, Crape myrtle, Four-o'clocks, Hibiscus, Impatiens, Liriope, Marigold, Mallow, Moonflower, Oleander, Periwinkle, Plumbago, Portulaca, Salvia, Ageratum, Zinnia, Balsam, Butterfly weed, Canna, Cleome, Cosmos, Dahlia, Daylily, Funkia, Gladiolus, Lily, Lycoris, Lythrum, Petunia, Phlox, Rudbeckia, Scabiosa, Shasta Daisy, Snapdragon, Snow-on-the-mountain, Tuberose, Verbena, Veronica, Althea, Buddleaia, and Montbretia.