What to Do in the Garden This Month
July is when the summer heat really starts testing your garden. Shrubs, flowers, containers, and young trees may need a little extra attention as temperatures rise and rainfall becomes less dependable. This is also the time when weeds seem to grow overnight, and garden pests show up without an invitation.
The good news is that you do not need to spend every day working in the yard. A few simple checks each week can help your plants stay healthy through the hottest part of summer. Grab your gloves, fill up your water bottle, and work through this July gardening checklist.
July Gardening Checklist
☐ Check Soil Moisture Before Watering
Do not assume a wilted plant is always thirsty. Some shrubs, especially hydrangeas, may droop during the hottest part of the afternoon as a natural defense against the sun.
Check the soil a few inches below the surface before watering. If the soil is dry, water deeply near the base of the plant. Early morning is usually the best time to water because less moisture is lost to evaporation.
☐ Give New Plants Extra Attention
Shrubs, trees, and perennials planted this year may need more frequent watering than established plants. Their root systems are still developing and may not reach deep enough into the soil to handle long stretches of heat.
Check newly planted areas several times each week, especially during hot and dry weather.
☐ Refresh Mulch Around Shrubs and Trees
Mulch helps hold moisture in the soil, reduce weeds, and protect roots from extreme temperatures. Check your garden beds and add mulch where it has become thin or washed away.
Aim for a layer about 2 to 3 inches deep. Keep mulch a few inches away from the stems and trunks of your plants. A giant mulch volcano may look impressive, but your plants will not be impressed.
☐ Deadhead Faded Blooms
Remove spent flowers from annuals, perennials, and repeat-blooming shrubs. Deadheading helps the garden look cleaner and may encourage some plants to bloom again.
Good plants to check in July include:
- Butterfly bush
- Roses
- Coneflowers
- Black-eyed Susans
- Bee balm
- Annual flowers in containers
☐ Be Careful With Summer Pruning
Avoid heavy pruning during extreme heat. Major pruning can place additional stress on plants when they are already working hard to survive hot weather.
Light trimming is fine when you need to remove dead, damaged, or diseased branches. You can also trim spring-flowering shrubs after they finish blooming, but be careful with hydrangeas. Some bigleaf hydrangeas bloom on old wood, and heavy pruning may remove next year’s flowers.
☐ Watch Hydrangeas for Stress
Hydrangeas may need extra attention in July. Check the leaves for wilting, yellowing, brown edges, or dark spots.
A hydrangea that droops in the afternoon but recovers in the evening may simply be reacting to the heat. If the leaves remain wilted after temperatures cool down, check the soil moisture and inspect the plant more closely.
Remove fallen leaves with fungal spots from beneath the plant to help reduce the spread of disease.
☐ Look for Garden Pests
Warm weather can bring plenty of unwanted visitors. Check the tops and undersides of leaves for insects, webbing, holes, or sticky residue.
Common July garden pests include:
- Aphids
- Spider mites
- Japanese beetles
- Whiteflies
- Caterpillars
Catching a problem early is much easier than trying to fix it after the insects invite all their friends.
☐ Pull Weeds Before They Produce Seeds
Weeds compete with your plants for water and nutrients. Pull them regularly before they become large or start producing seeds.
Weeding is usually easier after watering or rainfall when the soil is softer. Once the weeds are removed, check your mulch depth to help prevent new growth.
☐ Inspect Irrigation and Garden Hoses
Check hoses, sprinklers, drip lines, and watering timers for leaks or clogged openings. Make sure water is reaching the roots of your plants rather than running down the driveway or watering the sidewalk.
Adjust sprinklers as plants grow so taller shrubs do not block water from reaching nearby flowers and smaller plants.
☐ Water Container Plants More Frequently
Containers and hanging baskets can dry out quickly in July. Check them daily during hot weather. Some smaller containers may need water more than once a day.
Remove faded blooms, trim away dead foliage, and make sure drainage holes are not blocked.
☐ Take Softwood Cuttings While Plants Are Growing
July can still be a good time to take softwood cuttings from many flowering shrubs. Choose healthy new growth that is flexible but strong enough to hold its shape.
Keep cuttings moist and provide plenty of humidity while roots develop. A small container covered with a clear plastic bag can work well for homeowners who only want to propagate a few plants.
Final Thoughts
July gardening is mostly about helping your plants handle the heat. Water deeply, keep weeds under control, watch for pests, and check your hydrangeas regularly. A few minutes of care each week can prevent small problems from becoming much bigger problems later in the summer.
Your garden may be hot, but it can still look great with a little attention.
Real Plants. Real People. Real Passion.
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