Landscape Committee
Gardening Tips - June/July

Water

The CSU Cooperative Extension Service recommends deep watering less frequently (every 4-6 days) but more deeply as opposed to a frequent shallow watering schedule. This encourages deep root growth for turf and plants and results in a more healthy lawn or garden. This is especially critical during this drought period!

June

Turf

Fertilize cool-season grasses (like Kentucky blue grass and turf Fescue)with 1 lb. of nitrogen per 1,000 sq. ft.
Adjust mower height to 3 inches.

Perennials/Roses/Annuals

Keep plants deadheaded, remove the spent flowers. Divide spring blooming perennials.
Do not remove the foliage from tulips, daffodils and other spring bulbs. The dying foliage is building up the bulbs for next years bloom.

July

Turf

Cool season grasses (like Kentucky blue grass and turf Fescue) become dormant during the hot weather.
Apply water early to reduce incidence of disease and evaporation loss.

Perennials

Dig and divide iris. Discard any diseased or woody sections. Cut the sections and expose these to the air for several hours before replanting. Dig and divide spring bulb beds after the foliage has completely died off.
Take time to reamend the soil in bulb beds with organic matter, since these beds are only replanted every few years.

Vegetables

Avoid fertilizing peppers, eggplants and tomatoes with nitrogen. Nitrogen will cause more green foliage and less fruit. Fertilize sweet corn as it becomes knee high. Look for tomato hornworms this month. Pick off and destroy worms in early morning when they are high on the vines.