monthly garden tasks – Page 2 – Extension Master Gardener Volunteers of Durham County

Gary Crispell, NC State Extension Master Gardener^SM volunteer of Durham County

It’s July, Y’all, but you already knew that ‘cause you look at your phone 5 times an hour and it flipped over like a week ago. July in the Piedmont of North Carolina means HOT, HUMID, and P.M. thunderstorms. The first two are absolute locks, but the third? Not so much. June certainly was a harbinger. It was freakin’ HOT at the end. The consolation was the ~4” of rain.

The Accidental Cottage Garden (ACG) is looking downright bountiful for the pollinators. There are many iterations of blackeyed-susans (Rudbeckia fulgida). Some are the regular yellow petals and dark centers. Others have yellow and brown or yellow and maroon petals with dark centers and the petals are larger. The purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) has exploded all through the garden. They are a favorite here as they not only provide a summer long floral display, but in the fall the gold finches feast on the seed heads (hence the profusion throughout the garden).

A close-up of a vibrant yellow black-eyed Susan flower with dark center petals, surrounded by green foliage.

Purple coneflowers (Echinacea purpurea) in full bloom, with vibrant pink petals and distinctive orange centers, surrounded by green foliage.

Rudbeckia fulgida and Echinacea purpurea can provide an abundance of flowers to enjoy through the summer heat once they are established. (Image credit: Lucy Bradley CC BY 4.0; Cathy Dewitt CC BY 4.0)

The liatris (L. spicata) may need to relocate. His neighbor, the peony (P.) has usurped much of what used to be her space. The “Star Gazer” lily (Lilium x ‘Star Gazer’) has more blooms this year than ever before and is spectacular. Similarly, the balloon flower (Platycodon grandiflorus) is loaded with blooms. We’ve been pruning out the spent blooms to encourage a second round. There are several daylily varieties (Hemerocallis spp.). There are so many varieties, and we’ve had them long enough that I no longer remember their names (except the one named Bob). The accompanying shrubs, Limelight hydrangea (H. panniculata ‘Limelight’), butterfly bush (Buddleia davidii), and Knockout rose (Rosa x Radazz) complete the neighborhood’s floral display.

A vibrant cluster of Liatris spicata flowers, showcasing tall purple blooms surrounded by green grass-like foliage.

Close-up of a vibrant purple balloon flower (Platycodon grandiflorus) in bloom, showcasing its star-shaped petals and delicate inner structure.

Liatris spicata and Platycodon grandiflorus are in full bloom at the cottage garden waiting to be enjoyed by all visitors (human and pollinators). (Image credit: Hedwig Storch CC BY-SA 3.0; Cathy DewittCC BY-NC-ND 4.0)

OK, perhaps I have blathered long enough. Time to slather on the sunscreen, douse ourselves in insect repellent, and sally forth into your garden.

Lawn Care

Fertilize warm season grasses (Bermuda, St. Augustine, zoysia) now if you haven’t done so yet. Mow these grasses by removing no more than 1/3 of the total length. Mow cool season grasses no lower than 3”-4”.

Fertilizing

Last chance to fertilize landscape plants until 2026. It is an excellent time to take FREE SOIL TESTS. Boxes for the samples and instruction sheets are available from the Extension Office at 721 Foster Street, Durham. They are only free until the end of November.

Planting

It is not too late (nor too early, for that matter) to plant pumpkins, broccoli, beans, collards, brussels sprouts, carrots from seed and tomato plants. Get a jump on the fall garden season by starting cruciferous veggies (cabbage, cauliflower, etc.) in seed starter flats to be transplanted to the garden in mid-August.

Pot up or transplant overgrown house plants. Set them outside in a shade to part sun location if possible. They will thoroughly enjoy the summer vacation. Don’t forget to keep them watered.

Pruning

Trees that bleed a lot when cut (E.g. birch, maple, dogwood, elm) can be pruned this month. Cut way back those overgrown landscape plants and hedges. August will be too late. Coniferous plants (produce seeds in cones) can be lightly pruned now. Keep garden mums (Chrysanthemum sps.) pinched back until mid-month for fall blooms. Blackberry and raspberry fruiting canes can be cut back right after the last blackberry cobbler of the year. To promote a second blooming of perennials, prune the spent blooms before they set seeds.

Spraying

Be on the lookout for these nefarious characters, bag worms (pick off the bags and destroy them as ever you will. I thoroughly smush them.), leaf miners (try to take away their little headlamps so they won’t be able to see where they are going), spider mites (really tiny, look for telltale webs on undersides of the leaves), lace bugs, Japanese beetles (a soak in soapy water leaves them clean…and dead.), and the ubiquitous aphids. If you shot them with soapy water they will react just like the Japanese beetles—but not like the English kind who seemed to enjoy warm soapy water.

A bagworm larva built from twigs attached to a branch, typical in its cocoon-like appearance.

Close-up image of a plant stem showing distinctive nodes and growth patterns, with arrows pointing to specific features.

Bagworms can feed on many plant species but are most common on conifers such as Leyland cypress, arborvitae, cedar, juniper, and pine. (L) Mature bagworm in protective coating; (R) Damage on a Juniper tree from encircling bagworms. (Image credit: Entomology notes, NCSU Extension).

If you use toxic chemicals read the label and follow the instructions. Be alert for tomato blight and treat with a fungicide as necessary. Keep up with the perpetual spray programs for roses, fruit trees, and bunch grapes. Veggie pests that are voraciously trying to destroy your crop this month include cucumber beetles (on guess what), flea beetles (not on fleas) on tomatoes, beans, and eggplants, and aphids on anything they can get their sucky little mouth parts into.

OTHER BASICALLY NON-MANDITORY THINGS WITH WHICH TO WILE AWAY JULY

If you are truly bored you may build cold frames or a greenhouse in preparation for the winter to come (and it will). I’m thinking I might just go park my…self in the back yard under the gardenia (G. jasminoides) with a cold beverage and luxuriate in the heavenly odoriferousness of the wonderfully white blooms while I listen to the indigenous wildlife communicate with each other. It’s quite stress relieving. Again, it’s July in North Carolina. Adapt and enjoy.

A cartoon sloth peacefully sleeping on a green couch.

(Image credit: Pixaby)

Additional Resources

The NC Cooperative Extension has a list of titles that can provide guidance for summer vegetable gardening. https://guilford.ces.ncsu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Successful-Summer-Veggie-Gardens-Handout.pdf?fwd=no

Plant Delights Nursery gives advice on plants that flower in the summer. https://www.plantdelights.com/collections/summer-flowers-plants-perennials-that-bloom-all-summer?srsltid=AfmBOoooiFP7xp0tWt3A_ioW_TDqQMfDKaLKolF8V-w5SvLmxVAN7wn0

Looking for some drought tolerant plants that bloom in the summer? The NC Plant Toolbox has several suggestions. https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/find_a_plant/?nc_region__id=3&resistance_to_challenges__id=3&maintenance__id=1&flower_bloom_time__id=3&q=summer

Article Short Link: https://wp.me/p2nIr1-68f

By Gary Crispell, NC State Extension Master Gardener^SM volunteer of Durham County

(Left to right) The October surprise, or should we say November surprise, of the ACG is the New England aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae). Do you still have pumpkins and gourds hanging around through Thanksgiving? Each year an estimated 1.3 billion pounds of pumpkins and gourds end up in landfills. Consider adding them to your compost or find a local participating municipality accepting them for donation. See below for more on Earth-friendly ways to deal with your organic decorations post-holiday.¹ (Image credit: Dan Mullem CC BY-NC-ND 2.0; Melinda Heigel)

How ‘bout that October? Except for precipitation of any sort, there was something for almost everyone—a little hot, a little cool, and some stereotypical October Piedmont North Carolina, NC State Fair weather. There haven’t been very many State Fairs in my memory without some honest to goodness rain. We’ve been blessed unless, of course, you were trying to grow plants which is sort of what we’re all about here. So, mixed blessings? I mean, as fantastic as this area is, it still ain’t Camelot, Guinevere.

(Left to right) The ACG is still providing blooms this November. The drought-resistant African marigolds prove their hardiness. When planting for fall color, you can count on the New England aster and pink muhly grass to provide late-season interest. (Image credit: Gary Crispell; Jim Robbins CC BY-NC-ND 4.0)

The Accidental Cottage Garden (ACG) is too stubborn to give in to the crazy droughty up and down weather. There are some tough characters out there. The toughest of which must be the gallardia (G. pulchella). It doesn’t know quit. The African marigold (Tagetes erecta) and the zinnias (Z. elegans) are also heat and drought tolerant along with the false vervain (Glandularia bipinnatatifida). (Somebody stayed up late naming that one!)

A delightful surprise this year is a lovely New England aster (Symphotrichum novae-angliae). It isn’t as erect as I might be as it was crowded in amongst some other things, and I didn’t become aware of its existence until recently. Next year. Most of the hardy ageratum (Conoclinium coelestinum) have succumbed to the drought and the shorter days. There are a couple of late-to-the-party purple cone flowers (Echinacea purpurea) and a stray black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta). The muhly grass (Muhlenbergia capillaris) are looking a little thin and wispy, but I attribute that to it being the first year in the ground for them. Enough about my garden, let’s talk about what we can do in yours in November.