July

Watering

• Adjust watering schedules for increasing temperatures and monitor your irrigation systems for any breakdowns or irregularities.

• Deep water established trees, shrubs, roses and flowering plants at least twice a week. Water every other day for annuals, beds or flowering containers.

Fertilizing

• Fertilize roses, flowering annuals and perennial beds with a bloom booster such as BR-61, Bloom Max or any of the Fox Farm Organic fertilizers. Continue to deadhead (taking off spent flowers) for more continuous flowering.

Lawn Care

• Mow cool season lawns (parkblend, bluegrass, fescue) 2 to 3 inches high during the summer. Do not fertilize cool season lawns with high nitrogen fertilizer during this time, but if yellowing occurs use iron supplements like Max Green.

Insects and Diseases

• Inspect your plants for insects and diseases and consult one of our friendly staff members in our pharmacy to get a diagnosis. Please bring in pictures and samples of your problem areas to get the most accurate advice.

• Treat for bores on trees with Captain Jack’s Deadbug (spinosad). Saturate trunk and base of the tree. Spray fruit trees with Bonide Fruit Tree spray to protect developing fruit. Thin fruit or stake heavy fruit tree branches before any breakage occurs.

• Recognize chlorosis by the yellowing of leaves, usually caused by alkaline in New Mexican soil. Remedy with iron treatments like Bonide’s Soil Acidifier with Iron or Max Green.

Pruning

• Finish pruning spring flowering shrubs.

Vegetables

• Continue to harvest fruits and veggies regularly to keep your garden producing.

• Plant squash, pumpkin and beans.

• Garlic and onions are ready when their tops start to bend over. Remove their tops after they have dried and store in a cool place.

Miscellaneous

• Mulch your plants with pecan, cypress or cedar mulch as warm weather continues. To keep soil cool, conserve moisture and suppress weeds.

• Remove weeds by pulling them or spraying with appropriate herbicides.

• Remove suckers or off shoots from trees and roses as they will weaken your plants.

• Install rain barrels for the upcoming monsoon season and look into rebates from the Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority (abcwua).

• Work on your garden in the morning or early evening to avoid the heat of the day.