Now July is busting out all over
With summer now in “full swing,” we're doing LOTS of watering, aren't we? Be sure to do it when it will do the most good. Early mornings and late evenings will get the best results. Running your sprinkler “full blast” at noon is just a big waste. Water that evaporates before it hits the ground is only going to raise one thing … your water bill.
Be sure to disbud those annuals that need it, mainly petunias. Don't just yank off the dead flower. To be effective, you need to pinch off the tiny calyx that the flower grew from. If you skip this step, the plant will go to seed and stop blooming.
Another reason to snip off all kinds of dead flowers is to stop them from spreading seeds. A few of each kind are great, but an entire yard of them is usually too much. Remember, most of the annuals for sale nowadays are hybrids and won't “come true” from seeds. They will bloom like some mongrel ancestor.
How are your roses doing? They should be blooming and looking good. If not, the nasty winter we had may have “done them in.” If your roses are “grafted,” that part was probably winter killed. The graft is that big bump you can see where the top of the plant is attached to the roots. This area needs to have winter protection as it isn't very hardy. If the graft dies, what grows is from the roots, usually one called Dr. Huey. If (different) new dark red flowers bloom you'll know for sure. As this isn't a very attractive bloom, the best thing to do is to yank out the plant and start over with a new one being sure to “hill” up soil around it next fall, before winter hits. You may want to be sure your new rose isn't a grafted one. You can also switch to a miniature variety as these all grow on their own roots.
Now is the time of year to divide those irises. The best way to tell is by how well they bloomed this spring. If they produced fewer flowers than usual, it's time to get out the shovel. Just dig up each whole clump, then pull or cut all the old center growth out and toss it as those won't bloom again. Trim the leaves down to 5 or 6 inches, making it easier to handle those you're keeping. Plant in an area that gets at least half a day of sun.
Be sure to sit each rhizome (thick root) on a mound of dirt so it's at ground level. Spread the roots down both sides. Water well. Once established they will only need occasional watering. Irises are not big feeders but will appreciate a sprinkle of bone meal in early spring when growth begins.
If you haven't been fertilizing those annuals, now is a good time to start. Just dig in a bit of food every couple of weeks. This should keep them producing right up to frost.
Be on the lookout for crabgrass. I'm seeing it on lots of lawns as I walk by. The best way to get rid of it is to dig each one completely out. Fill in the hole and sprinkle on some grass seed. If you'd rather spray with some killer, that will work too. Just know that you will be left with a big bare spot,
Hopefully, your veggie gardens are producing for you. My raspberry patch is going crazy with fruit.
There's just nothing better than fresh, ripe fruit. Just picked. Well, maybe a fresh pie, just baked.
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Elaine Cerny has gardened most of her life, starting in 4-H. She has belonged to garden clubs in three states and is currently serving as secretary for the River City Gardeners Club in Post Falls. Her column has appeared in the Press every other Sunday from early March to late October for the past 15 1/2 years.
