July gardening can have its challenges with hot, dry days and sometimes humid conditions. A committed gardener has to use their time wisely during the cooler mornings and late afternoons.

July is sometimes called the month for watering. This rings true for almost everything in the landscape.

Most plants and lawns need and inch of water per week. Water during the early morning hours — 5:30–8:30 a.m. — using drip irrigation on your plants. This will ensure a proper deep watering where the plant roots can utilize the moisture.

Mulching will keep your plant and vegetable roots cool, and will allow for more water retention around the base of the plant

Deadhead plants such as black-eyed Susan, coneflower and knock out roses where they will continue to produce new flowers.

Now is a good time to trim gardenias and cut back blackberries. Remove faded flowers from salvia, zinnia and petunias for new bloom growth. Now is the time to prune azaleas back or you might sacrifice next year’s blooms.

Now is still a good time to plant marigold, cosmos and dwarf sunflower by seed for a show of flowers in about six weeks. Remove all of the stems that support old, faded flower blooms on blue and pink mophead hydrangeas by about one third. The new growth will support next year’s flowers.

Now is also a good time to cut back herbs like basil, mint and oregano to half. This will promote more fragrant leaves before they go to seed.

Check fruiting trees for limbs that are weighted down with unripened fruit. Remove some of the fruit or prop up the limbs with poles to prevent limb breakage.

Check all of July’s blooming plants like crape myrtle, dahlias, hosta, hydrangea and roses for insect and disease problems. Spray them with a systemic all-in-one if you suspect there are problems.

Now is the time to harvest tomatoes, okra, squash and cucumber regularly. One over-ripe vegetable can stop bloom production if left on the vine.

Most important during these drought stressed times is to be a plant detective. Symptoms of plant stress include wilted, discolored and premature leaf drop. Other problems can be environmental in relation to our current weather conditions.

Bringing in a sample of a plant or getting a soil test will help our staff in providing an accurate diagnosis.

Thanks to the Georgia Gardener Seasonal Calendar and Georgia County Master Gardener publications.

Wanda Cannon is a Master Gardener and serves as Master Gardener coordinator and horticulture assistant for the Hall County Extension office. Phone: 770-535-8293. Her column appears biweekly.