Sally Scalera

Brevard County Horticulture Extension Agent
3695 Lake Drive -- Cocoa FL 32926 -- 321-633-1702

July gardening

June 26, 2010

July is just a few days away and with it should come more heat but hopefully some rain too. If you have a lot of grass you may be feeling like a slave to your lawn mower but, just in case you have the time and desire to do some other projects, here are a few ideas.

• On Saturday, July 17th we will have another Rain Barrel Workshop at Rockledge Gardens. The cost is $45 and covers all the supplies. To register, call Elizabeth Melvin at 633-2016.
• If you don’t already have a rain gauge in your yard, go buy one today! Then you will definitely know how much rain your yard gets from each rainstorm. If you get an inch or more then turn off your irrigation system so that it doesn’t come on for the next day or two.
• Let the clippings fall when you mow! This returns nutrients and organic matter back to the soil.
• For automated irrigation systems, hook up a rain shut-off device, and set it for ¾ of an inch, so that if your irrigation is running during a rainstorm it is shut-off or it doesn’t come on while it is raining or it stays off for a couple days or so after it has rained.
• To green up your lawn without encouraging growth, apply supplemental iron, two ounces of iron sulfate per three to five gallons of water per 100 square feet or a chelated iron source. This effect will only be temporary, lasting about two to four weeks, therefore, repeat applications are necessary for summer-long color.
• Continue pruning the new growth of poinsettias to produce bushy plants.
• Do not prune azaleas, gardenias or camellias any more this year. The flower buds are forming now so if you do prune, you will be removing the flowers that would bloom next year.
• Continue to prune out any diseased or dead wood from trees and shrubs.
• If a flower bed is looking bad or you want to add a new one, be sure to amend the soil of the entire plant bed with organic matter, like compost or manure, before planting your flowers. Don’t forget to mulch when you are done planting.
• Flowers for full sun locations include: wax begonia, coleus, amaranthus, gaillardia, marigolds, coreopsis, lisianthus, portulaca, salvia, comos, gomphrena, melampodium, torenia, coreopsis and zinnia.
• To add some color to shady areas plant caladiums, coleus, impatiens, angelwing begonias or crossandra.
• Herbs that can be planted now include; basil, chives, dill, ginger, mint, oregano, sage, sweet marjoram, rosemary and thyme.
• Bulb type plants that can be planted include; lily-of-the-Nile (Agapanthus), Aztec lily (Sprekelia formosissima), white butterfly ginger (Hedychium spp.), gladiolus, spider lily (Hymenocallis spp.), Louisiana iris (German and Japanese iris usually don’t grow well in Florida), Walking iris (Neomarica gracilis), African iris (Morea spp.), kaffir lily (Clivia minata), crinum lily, and society garlic (Tulbaghia violacea).
• Root six to eight inch tip cuttings of poinsettias to use for Christmas gifts. Root the cuttings in a light weight fast draining potting mix, set them in a shady location and keep them moist.
• For planting in the garden in August, sow seeds of eggplant, pumpkin, sweet corn, squash, watermelon, peppers, okra, Southern peas, pole beans, collards, celery and broccoli so that you will have transplants ready.
• Continue to fertilize banana plants monthly.
• Vegetables that can be planted in July include: okra, Southern peas, calabaza, Seminole pumpkin, sweet cassava, malabar spinach and winged beans.
• Water citrus trees with an inch of water every 7-10 days if your trees don’t receive an inch of rain.
• ere is a list of some of the fresh produce that could be available at produce stands or farmer’s markets in July: avocado, Asian pear, blackberries, cantaloupe, endive/escarole, grapefruit, guava, mangoes, oranges, passion fruit, peppers, potatoes, tomatoes and watermelon.