Coastal Region – Christopher Burtt
- Apply a second (or third) application (if necessary) of turf fertilizer. Follow soil result guidelines for appropriate ratios. Do not exceed 1 pound of Nitrogen per 1000 square feet per application to avoid waste and burning.
- Monitor water needs of the grass and irrigate during times of drought stress. Generally, an inch per week of rainfall satisfies the water needs of a healthy lawn.
- Look for Grey Leaf Spot on St. Augustine lawn during humid weather, as it becomes an increasing problem. Most fungicides labeled for turf will control this disease.
- Cut back herbs, including basil, mint, & oregano, keeping them compact. Continue to deadhead flowers such as roses. Trim impatiens, giving them new life through late summer/fall.
- Plant gladioli bulbs every ten days until the end of the month for a succession of blooms and cut flowers into the fall. Start a second crop of vegetables and begin planning a fall garden. Lima and pole beans can be planted now. Many cool-season vegetables can be started for the fall, such as collards, kale, and cabbage.
- Regularly scouting is essential to stay ahead of various concerns in the garden. Check regularly for bacterial wilt on tomatoes, eggplant, & peppers.
- Examine fresh shoots for aphid clusters and black mold. Look for spider mites, which cause yellow bronze stripes on leaves.
- Check for weak looking, stunted growth plants – this may indicate nematode damage.
- Continue to harvest fruits and vegetables as they become ripe. Be sure to harvest in the morning before the heat of the day for the best quality. Follow your garden journal for appropriate harvest dates. Mid-season Blueberries should be ripening. For Vegetables such as okra and squash, be sure to harvest continuously to avoid over-ripe fruit.
Aphids on Milkweed.
Christopher Burtt, ©2023, Clemson Extension
Basil in flower.
Christopher Burtt, ©2023, Clemson Extension
Spidermite Damage
Christopher Burtt, ©2023, Clemson Extension
Midlands Region- Jackie Jordan
- Deadhead spent flowers on annual and perennial flowers. Pinch back leggy annuals. This will encourage branching and encourage more flowering. Don’t forget to fertilize containers and hanging baskets.
- Raise the mowing height on your lawn. This will encourage greater drought resistance in the lawn.
- Fertilize warm-season lawns around mid-July. Leave grass clippings on the lawn. They break down quickly and return nutrients to the soil. Remember, never remove more than a 1/3 of the leaf blade when mowing.
- Armyworms can show up in July and can be devastating in Bermuda and tall fescue lawns. Early feeding can make the lawn have a scalped or drought-stricken appearance. Use a soap flush to check for their presence. Add 2 tablespoons of lemon-scented dish soap to a gallon of water and apply the mixture to healthy grass adjacent to the damaged area.
- Be on the lookout for chamberbitter. Hand-pulling and mowing are useful strategies for limiting seed production. Various herbicides can also help keep chamberbitter in check. Herbicides are much more effective on smaller plants.
- Be on the lookout for pickleworms in squash and cucumbers. Keep an eye out for tomato fruitworms and hornworms. Bacillus thuringiensis (B.t.) is an organic insecticide that helps with caterpillar pests. Apply the liquid formulation to your crops in the evening since B.t. breaks down in sunlight.
- Harvest vegetables, fruits, or cut flowers in the early morning. Keep produce out of the direct sun and cool as soon as possible to extend the shelf life.
- Be on the lookout for black spot and Japanese beetles on roses. Handpicking beetles and dropping them into soapy water can be very effective!
Dahlias fresh from the garden.
Jackie Jordan, ©2023, Clemson Extension
Harvest fresh fruit early in the morning to extend shelf life.
Jackie Jordan, ©2023, Clemson Extension
Chamberbitter.
Jackie Jordan, ©2023, Clemson Extension
Before deadheading geraniums.
Jackie Jordan, ©2023, Clemson Extension
After deadheading geraniums.
Jackie Jordan, ©2023, Clemson Extension
Black spot on a rose leaf.
Jackie Jordan, ©2023, Clemson Extension
Upstate Region- LayLa Burgess
- Looking to extend your summer vegetable season before fall arrives? Consider a second planting of summer squash, southern peas, snap beans, or okra. Varieties with a low number of days to harvest will produce a quick yield. Add an herb to the mix by planting basil, while cilantro, rosemary, and oregano hold up well in cooler temperatures and last into fall.
- Plant pumpkins for a harvest around Halloween. Begin plans for a fall garden, particularly if starting seeds for Cole crops like broccoli, cabbage, and cauliflower.
- Potato harvest begins in June if planted in late February-mid March, but July is the time to dig for those planted late March-April. Potatoes reach maturity within 90-120 days after planting. Vines begin to dieback with the summer heat, signaling a bountiful harvest. Check out this video: Growing Potatoes in South Carolina.
- Early-season blueberries and blackberries are ready for harvest starting in mid-June, but mid and late-season varieties will ripen on into July. Do not pick blueberries or blackberries when wet. Picking ripe, dry berries reduces the chance of fruit splitting or bruising, leading to the onset of mold.
- Japanese beetles continue to move about the landscape causing foliar damage to plants. To control light infestations, handpick and toss beetles into a bucket of soapy water.
- Weed flowerbeds, deadhead perennials, and fill empty flowerbed space with quick growing, warm-season annuals for fall color. Cosmos, cleome, marigolds, sunflowers, and zinnias are options. Lift and divide overgrown clumps of bearded iris and daylilies after blooming and foliage die back. Overgrown groundcovers may need minimal weeding and slight pruning or edging back into shape.
- Soil reports for warm-season turfgrass maintenance recommend a second application of fertilizer, based on turfgrass type, during July.
- Lawn irrigation becomes increasingly important during the summer months, particularly if weather conditions become droughty. Woody shrubs and trees planted in the spring, rather than the dormant season, need sufficient irrigation during dry, hot days. Water trees and shrubs as needed, avoid overwatering. Conveniently place a rain gauge to monitor weekly rainfall captured by lawns and landscapes.
Plastic or cloth netting draped over bushes or supported by a framework provides protection from birds.
LayLa Burgess, ©2023, Clemson Extension
Make a day of it by visiting a local U-Pick farm in your area.
LayLa Burgess, ©2023, Clemson Extension
Blackberries lose their glossy shine when ripe and take on a slightly dull color.
LayLa Burgess, ©2023, Clemson Extension
Place a bucket of soapy water near gardens or landscape beds for easy disposal of Japanese beetles.
LayLa Burgess, ©2018, Clemson Extension
Monitor for Japanese beetles regularly, handpick, and dispose of them.
LayLa Burgess, ©2018, Clemson Extension
