Summer Gardening Tips - June, July and August

Summer Gardening Tips - June, July and August

Containers & Annual Plantings

• Use annuals or perennials to fill in small spaces.
• Keep annuals fresh by dead heading old flower blossoms as they finish.
• Continue fertilizing annuals and perennials in baskets, tubs and beds.  Try one of our favourite fertilizers for gorgeous big blooms:- Plant Prod10-52-10...it's awesome!

• Harvest fruits and veggies that are ready now. Keep strawberry runners in check. Prune out raspberry canes after fruiting. Next years crop will develop on this years new growth. Autumn fruiting raspberries are an exception, they fruit on the current years growth therefore are cut to the ground in early Spring. Don't forget to take any excess produce that you have to your local food bank.
• July is the time to start your fall veggie garden. Seed crops such as; endive, lettuce, green onions, oriental greens, cress, beets, Swiss chard, brussel sprouts and corn salad.

• Seed new perennials now.
• Stake tall plants as required.
• Cut flowers to enjoy indoors.
• Trim back perennials that have bloomed.
• Weeds can be pulled before they go to seed for effective organic weed control. Long handled weeding tools make this job a lot easier.
• Deadhead roses to encourage additional flowering.
• Prune shrubs that have finished blooming such as mock orange and weigela. Also hedges can be trimmed now.
• Apply 2nd application of granular fertilizer (usually March and June) to all flowering shrubs if not applied in June. By the end of July it becomes to late to fertilize with granular fertilizers.
• Plant new trees, shrubs, roses, perennials, small fruits and herbs now. Remember to include bonemeal, peat moss, and manure or your own compost when planting.
• New trees, roses and shrubs will require a lot of water during their first season. Remember to water deeply at least twice weekly and up to daily during dry periods. Lack of water in the summer and winter 'wet feet' are the two most common reasons why gardeners are unsuccessful with new additions.
• Watch for disease and insect problems and keep them in check. Most disease and insect problems start out as a small problem that can escalate quite quickly when they are not dealt with. Squishing problem bugs and trimming off diseased leaves when first noticed can help tremendously!
• Keep and eye out for slug damage, silvery trails are a sure sign that they are the culprits. 'Safer's' has a new pet and bird friendly slug bait that is really effective.

• Continue to fertilize flowering pond plants monthly with Pond Tabs for lush growth and additional blossoms this summer.

• Keep dandilions and other lawn weeds in check. Long handled weeding tools make this job a lot easier.
• Over-seed older lawns that are thin to rejuvenate and give new life to your lawn with Evergro Overseed Grass Seed. It's also ideal for lawns that have had a lot of moss removed, thatched and left thin.

Whew! You're finished... sit back and enjoy
the feeling of a job well done