July Lawn & Garden Tips
In the Garden
- Water Wisely. Most homeowners overwater their gardens. Get a healthy garden and use less water. Water your garden or lawn between 6-10 am to avoid evaporation and water until just before you see runoff. Don't forget to turn off automatic sprinklers when it rains.
- Feeding Time. The dog days of summer can make your plants grow dog-tired. Energize your garden by fertilizing your flower beds. Be sure to water after fertilizing.
- Refresh Flowers. It's common for a seasonal annual or two to decline before the end of the season. Cut back leggy annuals to encourage blooms and bushier growth and replace spent plants to keep your garden tidy and bright.
- Watch for Lacebugs. Use Bayer Advanced Tree and Shrub Insect Control.
- Brave Summer Storms. Be sure that all tall annuals and perennials are securely staked so that they will remain upright during the afternoon thunderstorms that are so common at this time of year.
- Mulch, Mulch, Mulch. Mulch to keep weeds down and increase water retention in the soil.
In the House
- Bring in Blooms. Don't be afraid to cut blooms from your garden to make fresh, seasonal flower arrangements. Some favorites include hydrangeas, cosmos, coneflowers, dahlias, zinnias and more.
- Water While You're Away. Add SoilMoist to pots. The granules absorb water and release it as needed.
- Feeding Time. Continue feeding your houseplants monthly.
For the Lawn
- Lay Sod. Now is a good time to lay Bermuda, zoysia or centipede sod. Be sure to keep sod watered daily while roots are getting established.
- Watch for Lawn Disease. The summer heat and humidity are ideal conditions for lawn disease. Bring in a sample or picture and the Pike experts can help you select the right treatment for your lawn issues.
- Stay Green. Apply an Iron supplement to fescue and centipede lawns to keep them green without forcing new growth.
For the Birds
- Keep it Clean. Clean out birdhouses after the baby birds have left the nest. Clean hummingbird feeders every 5-7 days so they don't get sticky.
- Birds are Thirsty Too. Make sure to clean and refill you birdbaths to give our fluttering friends a place to drink and bathe