July Gardening Tips
Posted: July 01, 2016
Tip #1
Check raspberry canes for insects and disease.
Solution #1
Cane Blight and anthracnose cause yellow and brown leaves, stems with purple and brown spots and dry and crumbly fruit. Prune and destroy canes as soon as they are found.
Fireblight is when the tips become wilted and black. Check for sunken cankers along stems, prune and disinfect tools between each cut with one part bleach and nine parts water.
Tip #2
Harvest Spinach, lettuce, summer squash and zucchini.
Solution #2
Spinach should be harvested when outer leaves are six to eight inches long only removing the whole plant when days grow longer and hotter.
Lettuce should be picked when out leaves grow four to six inches long.
Summer squash and zucchini should be picked when fruits are six to eight inches long or three to six inches in diameter.
Tip # 3
Controlling insects such as aphids, mites and plant bugs on perennials.
Solution #3
Continue removing spotted and diseased leaves as soon as they are found. Deadhead plants during wet weather to reduce risk of disease.
Watch for spotted and yellow leaves by checking the upper and lower leaf surfaces and stems. Spray plants with strong blasts of water and use an insecticidal soap to treat damaging populations.
