"Summer afternoon - Summer afternoon...
the two most beautiful words in the
English language."
~ Henry James
Celebrate July
After the cacophonous cries of Brood X Cicadas in June, July appears to have arrived quietly. Brood X has finished their 17-year cycle above ground and we will not see them again until 2038. We are still finding dead cicadas in the greenhouses, inside the store, as well as outside in the nursery. Hopefully, your landscape did not suffer any damage from the cicadas. If you do have some "flagging" on trees and shrubs where female cicadas slit bark to deposit her eggs go ahead and prune the dead tips. If the hanging dead tips ("flagging") is on large mature trees, do not worry. The trees will be fine and the dead tips will eventually fall to the ground.
Now that Brood X is gone we can return to our gardens in peace; no more dodging clumsy cicadas or constantly flicking them off your body. Now we can fully enjoy being outside. As you enjoy the beautiful summer weather of July, make sure you take precautions to stay safe during extreme heat. July is when the summer garden is filled with flowers and ripening fruits and vegetables. It is officially popsicle season, so go outside and enjoy yourself.
Happy gardening!
The Staff at Jackson Florist & Garden Center
Happy Independence Day!
We will be closing early on Saturday, July 3rd and will reopen on Tuesday, July 6th so our staff may enjoy the holiday weekend.
Holiday Weekend Hours
Saturday, July 3rd 8:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Sunday, July 4th Closed
Monday, July 5th Closed
July in the Garden
The garden in July is fully awake and offers blooms and buds all month. Here are a few garden tips to help you through the month.
Support/stake large plants and vegetables, such as hollyhocks and tomatoes.
Be on the lookout for insects and disease. If you see any unwanted insects use your fingers or a strong blast of water to remove them from plants. High heat and humidity can increase certain diseases. Keep an eye out for discoloration or blotching on plants. If you notice plants are dropping unhealthy leaves clean up all the leaves and throw them away. Do not leave diseased or dead leaves at the base of plants. Water and wind will spread any disease.
Continue to regularly fertilize annuals, vegetables, and houseplants.
Start harvesting and enjoying home-grown produce! Aren't growing any edibles this year, visit one of the many local farmers' markets to enjoy local seasonal produce.
Deadhead annuals and perennials to encourage new growth.
Stay on top of watering during heat waves.
Pay extra attention to newly planted trees and shrubs. They will require more water than established trees and shrubs.
Mow lawns regularly to 2-2.5" tall.
Continue to replant houseplants as needed.
Plan for a fall garden. Cole crops, zucchini, and summer squash seeds can be planted in mid July for a fall harvest.
If you are going away on vacation don't forget to plan for plant care. Ask friends, family, and neighbors to water plants while you are away.
Enjoy your summer!
"A perfect summer day is when the sun is shining,
the breeze is blowing, the birds are singing,
and the lawn mower is broken."
~ James Dent
Happy gardening!
Your friends at JF&GC