Gardening Tips for July: Harvesting, Pruning & Weeding
July is the heart of summer—and your garden knows it. With the heat rising and crops hitting their peak, it’s a crucial month for both maintenance and preparation. Whether you’re using biochar or not, there’s plenty to do to keep your garden healthy and productive.
Here’s a breakdown of what gardening jobs to focus on in July - with and without biochar.
What Can Be Done in the Garden with Biochar in July
If you're using biochar, July offers a few strategic ways to maximize its benefits. Biochar helps improve soil structure, retain moisture, and increase nutrient availability - especially important during the intense summer months.
Revitalise Harvested Beds
After harvesting your summer crops, mix biochar into the soil. This will begin restoring soil vitality, prepping the area for your next planting cycle. Biochar improves nutrient retention and creates a better environment for microbial life—key for long-term soil health.
Supercharge Your Mulch
Already applying mulch for weed suppression and moisture retention? Try mixing in biochar. When biochar is incorporated into mulch layers, it not only enhances soil fertility but also helps regulate soil temperature and suppress pathogens.
Prepare for Fall Planting
As you prepare garden beds for fall crops, add biochar compost. This combination boosts nutrient-holding capacity and improves root development for cool-season vegetables. Amending soil now sets the stage for strong, resilient fall crops.
Other Jobs to do in the Garden in July
Even without biochar in your soil, July can be a highly productive time in the garden. Staying consistent with maintenance and planning ahead will help your garden thrive through the summer heat.
Harvest Summer Crops Regularly
Tomatoes, peppers, courgette, cucumbers and herbs are likely in full swing now. Be sure to harvest consistently to encourage continued production and avoid overripening. Picking in the cooler hours of the day (early morning or evening) is best for preserving flavour and reducing plant stress.
Weed and Mulch
Weeds grow fast in the summer. Keep an eye out and remove them promptly to prevent competition for water and nutrients. Adding or refreshing a layer of mulch will help suppress weed growth and retain soil moisture during hot spells.
Maintain Routine Care
Keep up with:
- Watering: Deep watering is better than frequent shallow watering, especially in dry spells.
- Compost: Continue adding compost to beds for a nutrient boost.
- Lawn Care: Raise mower blades to avoid scalping grass in the heat.
- Pest Control: Check the undersides of leaves for pests like aphids, squash bugs, and hornworms, and remove them early.
Whether you garden with or without biochar, July is all about smart harvesting, steady maintenance, and preparing for what's next. For those using biochar, it’s also an ideal time to begin recharging your soil and enhancing fall planting efforts.
Happy gardening—and don’t forget to hydrate (yourself and your plants)!
