Sally Scalera

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

July gardening plans

June 26, 2004

July is only a few days away and with it should come more heat and rain. 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 other projects, here are some ideas of things to do.

  • Let the clippings fall! This returns nutrients and organic matter back to the soil.
  • For automated irrigation systems hook up a rain shut off device or turn your system on and off manually so that your irrigation doesn't come on while its raining or too soon after it has rained.
  • The effect from supplemental iron applications (two ounces of iron sulfate per three to five gallons of water per 100 square feet or a chelated iron source) are only temporary, approximately 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 or camellias any more this year. The flower buds are forming now so if you do prune, you will be pruning off next years flowers.
  • Continue to prune out any diseased or dead wood from trees and shrubs.
  • You can continue to transplant palms and sagos.
  • If a flower bed is looking bad or you want to add a new one be sure to amend the soil of the entire bed with organic matter like compost or manure before planting your flowers.
  • Flowers for full sun locations include: begonia, coleus, gaillardia, marigolds, coreopsis, lisianthus, portulaca, salvia, comos, gomphrena, melampodium, torenia and zinnia.
  • For your shady areas plant coleus, impatiens, angelwing begonias or crossandra.
  • Herbs that can be planted include; basil, chives, dill, ginger, mint, oregano, sage, sweet marjoram, rosemary and thyme.
  • Bulb type plants that can be planted include; African lily (Agapanthus), Aztec lily (Sprekelia formosissima), white butterfly ginger (Hedychium spp.), gladiolus, spider lily (Hymenocallis sp.), kaffir lily, crinum lily, and society garlic.
  • 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 and set them in a shady location and keep them moist.
  • Sow eggplant, pumpkin, sweet corn, summer squash, watermelon, pepper, pole beans, collards, celery and broccoli seeds so that you will have transplants ready for August.
  • Continue to fertilize banana plants monthly.
  • Vegetables that can be planted in July include: okra, Southern peas, calabaza, cherry tomatoes, Seminole pumpkin, sweet cassava and winged beans.
  • Cut back your blackberry bushes if you didn't do it last month.
  • Though we have been getting a lot of rain remember, water citrus trees with an inch of water every 7-10 days if your yard doesn't get an inch of rain.