July 2009 Gardening Checklist

Deadhead pentas to keep the annual flowering.

Photo courtesy Purdue University

• If there’s no rain, apply 1 inch of water each week or 10 days from the hose or watering can.
• Remove water sprouts (from trunk) and suckers (sprouts from roots) on fruit trees, including crabapples and other ornamentals.
• Reapply Preen Garden Weed Preventer with Brilliant Blooms Fertilizer every three months to prevent summer and winter annual weed seeds from germinating and growing in flower beds and around trees and shrubs. It also has a well-balanced fertilizer to keep plant growth healthy and flower production strong.
• Don't remove clippings from the lawn unless grass is excessively tall. Clippings return nutrients to the soil and do not contribute to thatch buildup.
• Deadheading, or picking off the faded flowers of many perennials and annuals, keeps them blooming longer and tidies up the plants. Pentas, coneflowers, snapdragons and zinnias are examples.
• Start seeds of broccoli, cabbage, Brussels sprouts and ornamental kale and cabbage for late summer plantings and fall harvest.