Tofino Gardening: Gardening in July

Tofino Gardening in July

by Trina Mattson, Tofino

July is here in flying colours. The worst of the gardening should be done by now, the biggest and meanest of the weeds have been pulled, and now it’s just keeping up, lawns have been limed, so there is no moss, although with the heat in June, you may have no lawn left either, all the planters and baskets should be full to the brim and blooming. So what’s there to do? Well…

This is optimum time to plant summer blooming perennials, and is high on my list of things to do, a few dull spots in the garden, from some perennials that didn’t fair to well over this past winter, or are tired and need replacement and with most just starting to set bud, as well as being a really nice size in there containers, a really good selection still available and at this point are on special in the garden centre, so the price is right as no one wants to transplant them to larger containers for next year, I know I’m filling my boots, or wheel barrow as the case may be.

July is also the last chance time to fertilize some of the more tender type trees, shrubs and climbers, as any new growth that they put on, you want to harden off before winter sets in, and as silly as it may sound we’ve been really lucky with our weather over the last few years, that with last winters surprise attack on us it was a hit to most of us, and many lost a lot of plants that we were not expecting to.

Dead head roses to extend blooming time longer, and cut back any bloomed out perennials for a possible second bloom in the fall, cut back spent flowers from lilacs, and trim back worn out pansies to within about an inch from the soil surface to increase bushiness and second blooming. Stake tall perennials and vegetables for support, and dead head any remaining rhodos flower stems, being careful not to break off the tips for next years bloom. Check any plants for slug and aphid damage and take the necessary preventative measures. Trim back any flowering shrubs that have bloomed and or are leggy.

The hummingbirds have been back for a bit and are hungry as usual, and although there is probably plenty in the garden for them to feed on sometimes a supplemental feeding is necessary. Keep the feeders as clean as possible, no one likes to eat off a dirty plate, and if ants are a problem the garden centre has ant traps made especially for hummingbird feeders, also replacement florets and bee guards as well, as well as food.

Water and feed hanging baskets and planters regularly, but with the lack of rain we’ve had you may need to forgo watering your lawn, if it goes brown don’t despair, it will rejuvenate with some moisture we are surely going to receive at some point. Also try raising your mower blade up a notch or two, this will help shade the roots of the grass a little more, and catch any dew that does end up on the lawn.

For any gardener that gets gardening hands, we have discovered a new product, to help fix the cracks on the sides of fingers, also it works for other professions as well, anything that dries out the hands as well as cracked elbows and feet, this product moisturizes without feeling greasy, and doesn’t come off when you get your hands wet.

Lastly the biggest thing to do in the garden this month is just sit back and enjoy with your favourite beverage, a good book, or good company and soak up the sun, with the right amount of spf, give yourself a pat on the back and say, “Another Job, well done, THANKS.”

Trina Mattson operates the Ordinary Corner Nursery in Tofino.