July Garden To-Do List

Whew. July is hot, especially this year, or is it just me?
The tomatoes are thriving, the basil is going to seed, and I can barely water fast enough (or be out there long enough) But there’s something so grounding about those early summer mornings — barefoot in the garden before the sun comes up over the neighboring houses, just me and the bees.

So if your garden is feeling a little wild (mine definitely is), here’s a little checklist to help it stay happy through the heat. 🌞

🧺 1. Harvest Before It Gets Out of Hand

You know that moment when your zucchini goes from cute to baseball bat overnight? Yep. It happens fast.
We’re harvesting:
• 🍅 Tomatoes
• 🥒 Zucchini + cucumbers
• 🌿 Herbs: basil, mint, thyme

Snip often, use what you can, and share the rest with a neighbor or friend.

🌱 2. Plant a Little More (It’s Not Too Late!)

Yes, it’s July. Yes, you can still plant.
• Fall goodies like carrots, kale, broccoli
• Quick crops: radishes + lettuce (succession sow every 2 weeks for a steady harvest!)

💧 3. Water Deeply

Instead of a quick sprinkle every day, try one big soak a couple times a week — ideally early morning. Your plants will grow deeper, stronger roots.
✨ Bonus tip: Add a thick layer of mulch to keep all that goodness from evaporating.

🌸 4. Give Them a Little Love

• Snip off spent blooms to keep flowers blooming
• Tie up floppy tomatoes
• Pinch off yellowing leaves
Small things, big difference.

🐝 5. Call in the Pollinators

We need the bees!
• Add flowers they love: bee balm, cosmos, lavender
• Set out a shallow dish of water with stones for them to land on — so cute and so helpful

🌞 Tip of the Month

“Shade tender plants in heatwaves with row cover or an old sheet.”
Even just a little break from the sun helps them bounce back.

That’s it, friend. Nothing fancy — just a little intention goes a long way this month. Now go outside, get your hands dirty, and let the garden do what it does best.

💚 Rachel