July

These suggestions for your garden are intended for central Texas.  However, if you are not in central Texas these suggestions may still be helpful but may need to be done earlier or later in the season depending on your location.

 

July is the time of year when mulching your flower beds can benefit you and your plants. Mulching holds moisture in the beds, keeps the soil cool in summer and retains heat in winter, helps keep the weeds out, and decomposes to enrich your soil. There are many types of mulches available. Pine mulch is widely used because it is the least expensive, and is dark in color. Hard wood mulch is dark in color and shredded so it mats together and does not float away. Cypress mulch is blond in color, has very few insect problems, does not float, and decomposes very slowly. Cedar mulch is very good in preventing weeds and insects. As you can see, there are many types of mulch to choose from so that you can meet the needs of your garden.

 

July is also a month with a lot of insect activity. June bugs will be laying their eggs in yards which produce white grubs. Fleas, ticks, ants and chinch bugs are also active this time of the year. Introducing beneficial nematodes to your yard will help control grubs, flea, and other ground insects for up to two years. Milky Spore is an effective way to control grubs for many years. NoLo bait is effective grasshopper bait that kills many grasshoppers as it spreads from grasshopper to grasshopper and may continue into next year.

 

Mark S. Ney   

Certified Texas Nursery Professional #4749