“July” by Sara Teasdale
I saw the wind within the tree
Tossing the boughs about,
And the leaves danced and sang with glee,
As if they had no doubt
That summer days were made for them
To toss and sing in every stem.
I saw the garden deep and wide,
A blaze of color spilled—
Red poppies danced from side to side,
The golden coreopsis thrilled.
The very bees within the vine
Were drunk with sun and honey-wine.
The earth was warm beneath my feet,
The air was heavy-sweet with heat,
And every living thing seemed glad—
Even the shadows that I had.
July is here and there is no longer any doubt that summer is definitely upon us!
June in the Augusta area was certainly warm! The daily highs hit the mid-90s with at least one day of 100 degrees, while the lows were in the low 70s. Fortunately, we got plenty of rain which kept most gardens and landscapes well-watered. It was a characteristically warm, moist early summer month — ideal for growth, but tending toward muggy conditions with brief stormy spells.
We can look forward to typical summer weather over the next three to four weeks, with hot and humid conditions. Daytime highs will probably range from the upper 80s to low 100s degrees. Our characteristic high humidity will remain, contributing to our discomfort but the usual thunderstorms and showers will thankfully help keep our plants alive. My mother used to comment that you could count on a summer thunderstorm just about every afternoon about 2 p.m.
Our list of things to do this month involves water. Lots of water, summer care, fall prep and heat management. As usual, I have included a link to a more in depth discussion of each of the points if you are interested in more details.
- Water deeply in the morning and only when the top 1-2 inches of soil is dry. This allows the surface of the plants to dry out during the day which reduces the risk of fungus infections, and it also encourages the plant roots to develop more deeply. Watering your lawn every day is almost guaranteed to cause issues. For more information, visit this link.
- Mulch to conserve moisture. Refresh mulch around vegetables, flowers, and shrubs. Use 2–4 inches of pine bark mulch, shredded leaves or other organic mulches to keep soil cooler and suppress weeds. For more information, visit this link.
- Harvest frequently and pick beans, tomatoes, squash, okra, cucumbers, and peppers regularly to encourage more growth. Remove ripe fruit to encourage further production and prevent pest issues. For more information, visit this link.
- Watch for pests and diseases. Keep an eye out for spider mites, aphids, squash bugs, tomato hornworms, and fungal diseases. Check the backs of the leaves, where bugs like to hide. Use organic controls (like neem oil or insecticidal soap) where possible. Always read the label on any insecticide. It’s the law! For more information, visit this link.
- Start fall veggie transplants indoors: This one always slips up on me. Start seeds for broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, and Brussels sprouts mid to late July. You’ll transplant them in late August/early September. Put this task on your calendar and you’ll save a bunch. For more information, visit this link.
- Prune spent blooms: Deadhead annuals and perennials like zinnias, black-eyed Susans, and daylilies. And, by the way, have you thought about saving those seeds? Deadheading encourages continued blooming and tidier beds. For more information, visit this link.
- Fertilize summer crops feed vegetables like tomatoes, okra, and peppers with a balanced fertilizer. Avoid over-fertilizing leafy greens in heat (they may bolt). Most local soils have plenty of phosphorus so you may want to use a low phosphorus fertilizer blend. Have I recently mentioned getting a soil test? For more information, visit this link.
- Plant heat-tolerant crops you can still sow like okra, southern peas (like cowpeas), sweet potatoes (slips), and heat-tolerant greens like Malabar spinach.
- Prepare beds for fall planting: Clear spent spring crops and amend beds with compost or well-rotted manure. Solarize beds if needed to reduce weed seeds and soilborne pests. For more information, visit this link.
- Care for container plants: Check pots daily; they dry out fast in the heat. Fertilize with diluted liquid feed every 1–2 weeks, and trim back leggy annuals.
- Stay hydrated, wear a wide brim hat and remember that only “mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the mid-day sun. For more information, visit this link.
