So, what does July mean for us gardeners here in Central Virginia? Usually, it means HHH – Hazy, Hot, and Humid. We just need to hope for some timely rainfall to help with watering our lawns and gardens. If we do get beneficial rainfall, these longer days and warmer soil temperatures can help create ideal conditions for continued planting in July. As of the 17th, thanks to much-needed rainfall, our drought situation is not as difficult as it was earlier this month. Let’s hope this weekly rainfall continues. Any little bit helps.
July is all about maintenance and momentum. What you plant and how you garden will often determine how successful your summer gardens will be.
Yes, it is July. Yes, it can be hot and dry. But, yes, you can still be doing some planting. For example, another season of vegetable planting, such as tomatoes, cucumbers, squash, and others, can help produce fresh vegetables later this summer. Now, you can do some summer-blooming annual planting.
This time of year, flowering annuals begin to show off now. Vinca loves the heat as do begonias, petunias, lantana, and others.
One important thing that I strongly suggest is to add some mulch around newly planted annuals and vegetable plants. You only need a couple of inches of new mulch. This thickness of mulch will help retain moisture and help to reduce unwanted weeds growing in your gardens.
For those hoping to attract pollinators, July is still an excellent time to add native plants to your landscape. Beebalm, milkweed, purple coneflower, and many more native perennials will support bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds all summer long. And, even though it is July this is still a good time to plant native plants in your landscape.
YES, IT MAY BE JULY BUT YOU CAN STILL “PLANT A LITTLE HAPPINESS” !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!