July Landscaping and Gardening Tips
Most Portland landscapes require maintenance in July, as the month falls in a high-growth season. This year’s soil is especially primed for productivity, thanks to 2011’s second-wettest spring on record. July can be a beautiful month for house landscaping in Portland, as the roses, fuchsia and perennials in hanging baskets are all in bloom. Here are a few tasks to do in your Portland garden in July:
July Garden and Lawn Care, Portland
New Planting. Many people are under the impression that planting seeds is seasonal and must be rushed into during the first few weeks of spring. But speak with a local landscaping contractor and he or she will emphasize that Portland’s temperate climate allows year-round gardening. Following, you’ll find a list of the crops year-round gardeners recommend planting in July in Portland:
- Beets
- Broccoli
- Cabbage, to overwinter
- Cauliflower, to overwinter
- Carrots
- Endive/chicory
- Kale
- Melons
- Onions, to overwinter
- Parsnips
- Peas
- Potatoes
- Pumpkins
- Rutabagas
- Snap Beans
- Squash, both summer & winter
Lawn care. Portland is a place where you can have a green lawn year-round, if you’re willing to put in the work. Regular mowing and consistent watering are just the start. The pristine lawns seen in Irvington and other Portland neighborhoods require consistent lawn care. Portland landscaping contractors can help with everything from mowing to fertilization and edge work.
Pruning and staking. Prune overgrown trees during the summer months; this will slow their growth for the following year. Hire a landscaping company if your trees are too high for you to safely trim on your own. If the branches of some trees look heavy, like they’re going to fall off, stake them. If you only prune your bushes once a year, do it in July.
Watering. New plantings and plants that are still getting established will require slow, deep watering during July. To properly drench these plants, put the hose nozzle close to the ground. After you’ve watered, the ground should be thoroughly soaked. Don’t just cover the plants in a layer of misting water; this can fry their leaves. It is best to water during the coolest parts of the day – in the early morning and at twilight. For a no-worries system, get a landscaping company to install a drip irrigation system on an automatic timer.
Weeding and mulching. If you want those beds to look pristine, weed away. Again, it is smart to work hardest when it’s cool. Once you’re done weeding, add a layer of bark dust or other mulch. As every landscaping contractor will tell you, mulching will help keep the earth around plants cool heading into August.
Encouraging Flower Growth. Deadhead flowers to encourage new growth. After your delphiniums and columbines have bloomed, you can cut them back by half to encourage another round of blossoms in the fall.
