Essential July Gardening Tasks for USDA Zones 5 to 8

July is a peak month in summer gardens when days are long and sunny, evenings are warm, and temperatures remain consistently high. During this month, gardeners in US Hardiness Zones 5 to 8 should focus on maintaining existing plants, controlling pests and diseases, watering, and preparing for fall gardening. All these zones get consistent weather conditions throughout the month of July. This is a month when you can enjoy your harvests, when many crops take shape, when many flowers bloom, and when you plan your garden for fall. July garden tasks in these zones include consistent watering, weeding, deadheading flowers, mulching, and more. Let's explore all the tasks gardeners need to do in July to keep their garden producing and thriving.

Follow our July Gardens Checklist Zones 5-8 for a list of garden tasks to do that will ensure a healthy and lush summer garden even amid the year's hottest days.

Start Seeds Indoors for Your Fall Crops

Planning and planting for your fall crops should be at the top of your priority list this month. Create a list of all seed-starting supplies and any seeds you will need for your project. Start seeds indoors for cole vegetables for your fall garden. Direct sow beets, kale, turnips, radish, and carrots from late July to August.

Read More: Fall Garden Ideas for Beginners

Pests and Diseases Control

Continue to monitor your plants and garden for signs of pests, such as spider mites and Japanese beetles, as well as diseases like tomato leaf spot. Spider mites thrive in the heat, and Japanese beetles are also most active in July. Look at the leaves of tomato plants for signs of leaf spot disease. Additionally, control mosquitoes by eliminating all sources of stagnant water. Create a bat house in your garden to encourage bat habitat, as they eat mosquitoes. Be aware of common July pests and diseases and take immediate action as needed.

Deadhead Flowering Plants

Garden flowers, both annuals and perennials, benefit from "deadheading" after flowering. Deadheading spent flowers to encourage secondary blooms. By removing old flower heads, plants use energy to produce new flowers, roots, and foliage. Many will create a second and third wave of blooms. Deadheading in July will keep your flowering plants healthy and extend the bloom season.

Fertilize Annual Plants and Vegetables

Plants have been utilizing a significant amount of nutrients throughout the growing season. Therefore, the soil may need replenishment to keep plants healthy and strong, so they are less susceptible to pests and diseases. Flowering also requires a lot of energy, so feed your flowering annual plants once they begin to bloom. Fertilize them one more time before the end of the season. Fertilize your vegetables with an organic, balanced fertilizer to support their productivity.

Divide and Transplant

Another must-do July garden task in these zones is to divide and transplant daylilies and bearded iris using the strong ends of the rhizomes. Remove the old center part and cut the leaves back to around six inches.

Remove Weeds

Unwanted weeds compete for moisture, nutrients, and space with your plants. They have been trying to make themselves at home since the arrival of warmer weather. It is essential to maintain control over weeds to prevent them from overtaking your thriving vegetable or flower gardens. Check your garden beds regularly for weeds and remove them as soon as you see them using a weeder. Add organic mulch to your garden beds to prevent weeds from reproducing.

Do Summer Garden Pruning

Prune shade trees, trim strawberry bushes after fruiting, and cut back non-fruiting old raspberry canes. Always look for dead, diseased, and damaged wood in shrubs and trees, and remove it as soon as you discover it. Do the same with tomato suckers. Prune tomato plants in July to redirect energy to the plant for increased fruit production. Remove dead leaves from around the base of the plant. Additionally, prune rambler roses after their flowering period. Also, maintain hedges and shrubs with proper pruning.

Sow Seeds for Later Summer Crops

Gardeners in hardiness zones 5-8 can continue sowing seeds in July for late crops of summer squash, chard, cucumbers, bush beans, beets, corn, and summer spinach. Cover the seeds with pre-moistened potting soil mix, which won't crust and crack. To retain soil moisture, apply a thin layer of mulch on garden beds or cover the rows with row cover fabric.

Read More: 10 Vegetables You Can Plant in July

Provide Consistent Watering

July is the hottest and driest month of the year for most growing zones. Therefore, watering plants deeply and regularly in this month is crucial to ensure a productive garden.

A vegetable garden typically needs one inch of water each week or more during very hot and dry spells. Keep your garden well-hydrated with consistent, deep watering, with a drip irrigation system. Don't forget your old and newly planted trees: water them deeply. Water your garden in the early morning so plants can benefit from the watering session.

Most importantly, inspect your irrigation system, troubleshoot any issues you may have encountered, and make necessary adjustments or repairs. Check the drip tubing, fittings, and hose connections for leaks. Ensure every component is in good condition and working smoothly. Adjust timer settings according to the season and the plant's needs.

Pinch Herbs

Pinch herbs in your garden, such as mint, basil, oregano, and savory, to encourage denser, bushier growth with more leaves to harvest. Pinching also delays flowering, which is desirable for culinary herbs.

For those who are unfamiliar, pinching is a method of herb pruning used to promote dense growth and increased leaf production in herbs. This pruning technique involves removing the stem tip by pinching it off with your fingers right above a leaf node.

Touch Up Mulch

A nice layer of mulch will keep your garden beds and plant roots cool during the summer heat. This is also beneficial for cool-season crops, which tend to bolt in warmer climates. In July, mulch your garden beds generously to conserve moisture, regulate soil temperature, suppress weeds, and enhance yields.

Read More: What to Plant in Late July

Harvest Summer Crops

July is the month to harvest summer garden goodies such as tomatoes, cucumbers, beans, zucchini, eggplants, berries, and other crops as they ripen.

In hardiness zones 7 and 8, July gardens, harvest onions and garlic when the tops dry out and fall over. Tie garlic tops and hang them in a dry, cool place. Cut onion tops to 1 inch and dry them completely before storing.

Prepare Your Garden Beds for Fall

Finally, plan your fall vegetable garden in July. Prepare beds for fall vegetables by sowing a cover crop of fast-growing field peas or other legumes. You can directly sow seeds for carrots, beans, lettuce, squash, turnips, and broccoli for the fall. When planning a fall garden, consider planting flowering plants to attract pollinators, encouraging them to stay and nurture your crops. Consider planting gorgeous fall-flowering perennials such as marigolds, sunflowers, alyssum, cosmos, nasturtium, and more.

Wrapping Up

July is one of the most productive months in the garden, requiring numerous garden tasks. If you live in hardiness zones 5 to 8, you know what to do in your July summer garden to ensure consistent harvests. You worked hard this year, and now it's time to enjoy your garden treasures. Don't let your efforts go to waste. Check off all these garden tasks from the July garden checklist, Zones 5-8, and keep your garden thriving throughout the growing season.

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