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- Index
: July Gardening Calendar
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- 1. Harvest rainwater
- 2. Fertilize palms
- 3. Prune mesquite, eucalyptus, and palo verde
- 4. Sharpen lawn mower blades
- 5. Water lawns in the early morning
- 6. Remove faded blossoms
- 7. Pick melons when they ripen
- 8. Remove storm damaged limbs
- 9. Plant pumpkins now to harvest for Halloween
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- 1. Harvest rainwater - Top
- Harvest rainwater by attaching gutters to you roof and directing the down spouts into plastic trash cans or wooden barrels. Keep the barrels covered to prevent algae growth and mosquito breeding. You can attach a hose bib near the bottom of the barrel to distribute the rainwater to your garden and landscape later in the year. - Updated: June 21, 2002
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- 2. Fertilize palms - Top
- Fertilize palms with a palm special fertilizer. Large, mature palms should receive 5 to 7 lbs., small palms 3 to 5 lbs. per tree. Apply the fertilizer in a band around the trunk, out about one foot from the base of the trunk. After applying the fertilizer, slowly water it into the ground. - Updated: June 21, 2002
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- 3. Prune mesquite, eucalyptus, and palo verde - Top
- Prune mesquite, eucalyptus, and palo verde during the heat of Summer. These trees heal quicker during hot weather, so if pruning must be done, do it now. Some bleeding of sap may occur from the pruning cuts, but don't worry. The spa loss will not harm the tree. As the tree heals, the sap will stop flowing. For pruning of large trees, obtain the services of a certified arborist. - Updated: June 21, 2002
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- 4. Sharpen lawn mower blades - Top
- Sharpen lawn mower blades to keep lawns looking their best. Dull mower blades tear grass and cause the tips to turn brown, giving the lawn a brown cast. Blades should be taken to a hardware store for sharpening so that they may be honed and balanced properly. - Updated: June 21, 2002
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- 5. Water lawns in the early morning - Top
- Water lawns in the early morning to conserve water and prevent fungus disease. Never water at night! Higher summer humidity coupled with nighttime lawn watering can encourage fungus disease to develop. The best time to water lawns is between 4:00 a.m. and 8:00 a.m. - Updated: June 21, 2002
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- 6. Remove faded blossoms - Top
- Remove faded blossoms of garden flowers such as roses, zinnias, marigolds, salvias, and geraniums. Cut blooms off as they begin to fade. Use a sharp pruning shears or scissors. This will encourage increased blooming by directing the plants energy to production of flower buds, rather than seeds. Always cut off spent flowers, never pull them off, as the embryo may remain and seed formation will continue. - Updated: June 21, 2002
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- 7. Pick melons when they ripen - Top
- Pick melons when they ripen. Watermelons are ripe will have a patch of yellow on the underside of the fruit. If the patch is still white it's not ready to pick. Also tendrils on the vine just above the melon should be brown and shriveled. If tendrils are still green the watermelon is not ripe. Determine the ripeness of cantaloupe by pressing lightly on the blossom end. If it gives slightly it should be ripe. Also, smelling the fruit should provide a sweet melon fragrance. - Updated: June 21, 2002
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- 8. Remove storm damaged limbs - Top
- Remove storm damaged limbs by pruning back to a side branch or the main trunk. Monsoon season brings intense storms with strong, damaging winds. Trees with very heavy leaf canopies are more likely to be injured by strong winds. They act like sails catching the wind. Some thinning of internal branches may be necessary to lighten the canopy and prevent storm injury. - Updated: June 21, 2002
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- 9. Plant pumpkins now to harvest for Halloween - Top
- Plant pumpkins now to harvest for Halloween. A fun activity to do with your kids is to plant a pumpkin patch in your garden. Most pumpkin varieties mature in 100 to 120 days. By planting in early July, you'll have pumpkins ready to pick for Halloween decorations and harvest arrangements. - Updated: June 21, 2002
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