July in the Garden

Set the lawn mower a little higher for the summer months. Aim for around 6.4 centimetres (2 1/2 inches). Longer grass shades the roots, conserves moisture, and inhibits weed growth. For minimal stress to the lawn, and for short clippings that break down easily to nourish the grass plants, mow often.

For good eating fresh from the garden in fall and winter, seed lettuce, carrots, beets, kohlrabi, bok choy, Chinese cabbage, Florence fennel (finocchio), bush snap beans, and early varieties of cauliflower and broccoli early in the month. Flowering kale and cabbage seeded in early July and transplanted in September will give autumn and winter colour in the garden as well as tasty leaves for salads and stir-fries.

Maintain moisture in compost piles, and fluff them up every week or so to introduce fresh air and stimulate microbial activity for speedy decomposition.

To assist the setting of pods in dry, warm wweather, apply a fine water spray often to runner bean flowers. Keep the plants consistently well watered, and mulch with compost to reduce moisture loss and enrich the soil.

Prune wisteria this month. Leave just four or five leaf stems on the new growth made this year. The new growth will be noticeably smoother and greener than last year's growth.

Mulch peonies and rhubarb with old manure and/or compost to strengthen the plants for another satisfying round of stalk production and flowers next year.

Dead head roses and annual flowers to keep them blooming generously.

Seed winter pansies for transplanting in September. The plants will give some bloom in the fall and during mild winter weather, and be in full flower in the spring.

Gather herbs for drying just as they begin to flower.