Released July 3, 2008

SEARCY, Ark. - July is the ideal time to enjoy the garden with minimal hassle, says Sherri Sanders, White County extension agent with the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture.

"July is a time when you can sit back for a moment and enjoy the fruits of your labor in the garden," she said, adding that there are a few ongoing tasks to perform to keep the garden beautiful, however.

In a garden with a wide variety of flower species, be sure to care for each flower properly. Heavy mulching will keep roots cool and moist, prolonging the flowering season of flowers like sweet peas. Shading the plants in mid-day will also maintain the quality of the flowers. Other plants, like pachysandra, ivy and climbing roses will root fairly quickly when layered into warm soil.

July is also the time to sow seeds of hollyhocks, English daisies, foxgloves, violas, Canterbury bells and sweet William into the garden for next year's bloom.

"Begin enjoying the harvest of your homegrown fruits, vegetables and herbs," Sanders said.

Replant empty areas of the garden with a fall-vegetable crop or a crop of clover to control weeds. Plant out successions of salad crops for continued harvesting throughout the summer. Sow seeds for cool‑season crops directly into the garden by mid‑July.

"Contrary to popular belief, a brown lawn isn't necessarily a dead lawn," she said. During times of drought, grasses become dormant, but will spring back to life when rain falls. Regular, deep watering will keep the lawn lush and green through the summer. Also, raising the height of the cutting blade on the lawn mower will help, because taller grass cools roots and keeps moisture in the soil longer. However, some people choose to let lawns go dormant in order to save on water expenses. Dormant lawns only need watering about once month.

July is the time to be on alert for slug and snail damage. The creatures will hide during the hot hours of the day, but emerge in the cool hours of the morning and evening.

"Seek and destroy all slugs and their eggs," Sanders said.

For more information on summer gardening, visit http://www.uaex.edu. The Cooperative Extension Service is part of the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture.

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http://www.uaex.edu/news/july2008/0703gardening.htm

Contact: Lamar James, (501) 671-2187,ljames@uaex.edu