JULY

It always rains after you’ve watered the garden

July is the hottest and most sultry time of the year. These are the days when everything seems quite still – except mosquitoes, of course – and the sun threatens to bake lawns, gardens, and gardeners alike.

There is plenty to do in the garden in July although it is best done in the early morning or late evening when temperatures are more comfortable. When it has been raining and everything is wet, do not allow the maali to take off. It’s the best time to pull out the weeds specially because the ground is so soft, that it takes a gentle tug for the weeds to come out..root and all. Here are some suggestions for tasks around your yard and garden in July.

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House plants

Most House Plants are tropical plants, and quite like the heat and absolutely love the humidity..
Plumeria, Murraya, Raat ki Rani, hibiscus, Oleander, Plumbago, Verbina, Chameli and Bougainvilleas will almost all be flowering create a rich landscape of colour and aroma. To encourage more blooms, pruning is a crucial activity for flowering plants. After the flowering is through but before the budding begins, prune the flowering plants. In the late winter or early spring, summer flowering plants should be pruned. This is the time to propagate plants by taking cuttings, by root division or by layering. Use this month as an opportunity to plant bare-root trees shrubs. Look out for diseases such as leaf spot, powdery mildew, and rust.

Indoor plants

Move indoor plants away from the draft of air conditioners, coolers and fans. When its raining, put all your indoor plants out so they can get washed by the rain. Its extremely good for them. If you need to show light to the plants then put them out after sundown, leave them out the entire night and let them get the gentle morning sunshine. And be sure to bring the plants in before the burning heat of the mid-day sun. This is also a good time of the year to add to your indoor plant collection since the nurseries are well stocked with them this time of the year. The plants will need a little more watering than they did in the summer but please stick to the GOLDEN RULE OF WATERING PLANTS. Touch the soil with your finger. If it feels dry then drench the soil so water comes out of the drainage hole at the bottom. Best to water with a sprinkler, so the plants feel its raining on them. If you are in doubt as to whether the soil is wet or dry, then wait another day before you are completely sure and only then water. Spray the plants everyday. Wipe the leaves gently with a soft cotton cloth or sponge, while supporting the leaves with the palm of your hand. One can create and INDOOR GARDEN JUNGLE. Keep the humidity up round the plant and make sure plants are kept away from the draft of ACs, Air Purifiers, Coolers or fans.

Roses, Dahlias & chrysanthemums

Roses: Regular watering, deweeding and turning the soil is important. Pinch the chrysanthemums and water regularly

Bulbous plants

There is still time to plant Caladium and Cana. Look out for Alocasia and Elephant ears growing at friends and neighbours and beg, borrow or steal a small root or two. Caladium Easter lilies too are hardy and the leaves look fresh all the way upto winter. For a garden, one can mix-and-match of Spider lilies and Zephyr lilies (also called rain lilies for their spectacular show of flowers during the rains), Ginger lilies, Elephant’s ears, Bird of paradise and Canna. For a potted version, plants that lend well to a container can be handpicked, such as Begonias, Blood lily also called Football lily, and Tuberose.. Whether growing in a ground garden or pots, abundance works from the aesthetic point of view. It is ideal to grow a few or more bulbs together; it puts on a much more pleasing spectacle than lone warriors growing out of the soil. Less marks and injuries, big size and more weight is the key. An injured bulb has more chances of rotting in the soil, while a big size indicates a mature bulb and ensures more flowers.

Vegetables

Rainy season vegetables such as Okra, Bittergourd, Tinda, Sponge Gourd, Tinda, Cucumber, Tomato French Beans and Sem seedlings can be sown if not done already.

Seasonal flowers

Saplings for rainy season flowers can be transplanted. Zinnia, balsam, Coleous, Kochia, Cocscomb and Dahlia can be done. Sunflowers of all kind can be grown from seed, the Giant Sunflower and Teddy Sunflowers grow very well in sunny areas. The sunflowers face the sun at all times throughout the day, facing east when the day starts and facing west by the end of the day. Also the birds will come and eat the sunflower seeds so it’s a great plant to grow to attract bird and butterflies to your garden.

Herbs

Save your mint from excessive rain, as it leads to rot The only herbs that do well in the Delhi summer are varieties of Lemon grass, Basil, Tulsi ( which is also called Holy Basil) Chives and Rosemary. Its best to grow Tulsi and Basil in big open mouth pots. So the seeds fall in the soil and sprout in the monsoon. You will never be short of any.

Lawns and Hedges

A great time to take care of any bald patches or to plant new grass. If you have bald patches, loosen the soil, and take some grass roots out of the overgrown edges of the lawn. Plant it with a 2’ gap and watch the bald patch fill out in no time. Feed it with neemkhali and bonemeal and/or finely crushed Okhla khaad or Sieved Leaf Mould/patti khaad. Water and mow regularly. A note of caution: do not leave an open pipe on the lawn. Always sprinkle. An open pipe will nourish the deep rooted dreaded motha and other weeds and will also make the grass grow needlessly long.

Succulents

Please move your succulents in the semi shade as the strong summer sun is sure to discolour these. The sun is getting warm so water once a week. Please water from below and not from the top of the succulents as it leads to rot.

  • WATER DAILY

    If you are going on a vacation, the best thing is to get a friend or a staff water your plants while you are gone. If its just for 3 or 4 days then put all your plants in a close cluster in the shade, take recycled mineral water bottles, make a tiny hole on the lids and turn them upside down in the soil.

  • DIG OUT WEEDS

    Clear your garden, lawn, flower beds and potted plants of perennial weeds. The best way to get rid of these weeds once and for all is to dig them right out, roots and all. If you leave any of the root behind, you will find that the weed will regrow.

  • PESTS AND DISEASES

    Spray neem oil once a week, because this is the time of the year that weeds, pests, and diseases are growing as well. Check plants regularly for pests and diseases and deal with them promptly to prevent them spreading. Prevention is better than cure. Beware of powdery mildew, which is caused by moisture and humidity.

  • SNAILS AND SLUGS

    Protect susceptible plants from slug and snail damage. Specially varieties of Money plants and Pothos. Spray neem oil on the leaves twice a week.

Keep close watch on your birdbath, water features, and bird feeders – take steps to correct or avoid mold, stagnation, and mosquito larvae.

Happy Gardening