Tips for your July Garden

o   Garlic and onions are ready when their tops start to bend over. Remove their tops after they’ve dried for a couple weeks and store in a cool place.

o   Slugs? Put out shallow dishes of beer; handpick in the early morning. Also, deter with eggshells and other sharp objects.

o   During these warmer months, raise the mowing height to 2.5 to 3 inches. Water your lawn with 1 inch of water per week to ensure healthy growth.

o   Harvest summer squash when it’s young and tender (8 inches).

o   Feed your roses at mid-month to encourage more flowering.

o   When there is less than an inch of rain in a week, water extra. Water in early morning.

o   Remove tomato suckers to keep the energy focused on the fruit on main branches.

o   Snip off the old flower clusters from rambler roses to encourage them to bloom all  summer.

o   Lightly fertilize long-season plants, such as onions, tomatoes, and peppers, to help encourage growth.

o   Pinch back mint, oregano, and savory to promote bushier growth.

o   Finish pruning spring-flowering shrubs by mid-month.

o   If your trees have any yellow or undersize foliage, start feeding them regularly. Be sure not to overfeed them.

o   Remove any spent flowers from annuals to ensure continued blooming.