July Gardening Checklist for San Francisco & the Bay Area

1. Add a Water Feature

Even if you can’t jump into it, the presence of water can help an outdoor space feel cooler—and just the sound of trickling water is soothing. It’s also nice to be able to dip your hand into a fountain, pond, or water feature as you walk by it—especially during summer months. There are lots of interesting water feature manufacturers, but we think some of the best designs come from artisans such as Concrete Works or companies that specialize in fountains and garden art such as Stone Forest.

2. Get Out to Filoli for Ideas

Summer is a great time to visit Filoli. Not only are the garden and grounds in great shape, but there are lots of other activities to enjoy, too—from Jazz at Filoli and Summer Nights programming to live music, lectures, fruit tastings, and themed nights. It’s also a great time to see the orchard and edible garden on the property. Take a trip out to Filoli for a fun day or night filled with ideas and inspiration.

3. Prune Chrysanthemums

For chrysanthemums, cutting back growth or pinching off flowers spurs a bushy growth habit and will often also lead to more blooms per plant. A general rule is to make your last pinch or trim by mid-July. If you do it any later, you run the risk of cutting buds off the plant or harming the bloom season. An all-purpose fertilizer can also help stimulate growth after pruning. Learn more about how to grow and care for chrysanthemums.

4. Keep Mosquitoes at Bay

If you have any standing water around your garden (bird baths, reflection pools, etc.), refresh it weekly by emptying it and refilling with fresh water. If there are bodies of water that you can’t empty and refill weekly (besides pools that have chlorine), add mosquito dunks to the water to kill larvae. If you have a mosquito problem, place buckets of water near problem areas and put mosquito dunks in them. Avoid using mosquito foggers because they will also kill all of the beneficial insects on your property. You may also want to consider planting mosquito-repellant plants in your garden such as lemon grass, citronella grass, lavender, catmint, and others.

5. Attract Beneficial Insects; Don’t Buy Them

It’s common to see ladybugs and other beneficial insects sold at nurseries during summer. Avoid buying beneficial insects and try to attract them instead by planting more native plants in your garden. Trust us: Plant natives and the beneficial insects will come. It’s also important to avoid using pesticides because they disrupt the natural balance of the garden. For example, if you kill aphids with a pesticide, ladybugs will never colonize your garden because some aphids need to be present for the ladybugs to come. Find native plants for your area using the National Wildlife Federation’s Native Plant Finder.

6. Plant Heat-Tolerant Containers

If you want to refresh or completely replant your container gardens this month, go for it! Many spring-blooming plants have finished their bloom season, so it’s time for a fresh start. This time, though, try planting succulents that can withstand the summer heat with ease. Agave, aloe, aeonium, dudleya, dyckia, echeveria, mangave, and others perform incredibly in containers. Be sure to plant succulents in a cactus mix so there is proper drainage, and give them regular water while they’re getting established. For a nice selection of small and large-sized succulents and cacti, try Plants Express. For smaller succulents and cactuses, try Plant Delights.

7. Plant Fall Veggies

Now’s the time to get a jump start on planting fall vegetables: beets, beans, broccoli, carrots, cauliflowers, green onions, spinach, turnips, and winter squash. Some of the most fun fall plants are gourds and winter squash. Try some interesting varieties such as ‘Autumn Wings Blend’, ‘Turk’s Turban’, 'Goblin Eggs Mix’, or any of the other unique-looking ’gourd varieties from Johnnys Selected Seed. Did you know you can grow gourds on trellises or arbors? It’s a great way to maximize your space. Try a garden arch from Gardener’s Supply, or, if you want a more modern look, check out Terra Trellis.

8. Prune Dahlias with the Right Tools

After the first dahlia blooms fade, pick off spent blooms or trim back with hand pruners. A few good hand pruners include Felco F-8 Classic Pruners, ComfortGel Pruners by Corona, and Ratchet Pruners from Gardener’s Supply. You spend a lot of time and effort growing dahlias so having the right tools for a clean cut keeps plants healthy and looking good.

9. Take Care of Your Trees

July is often one of the hottest months of the year around the bay area and sometimes it stays hot into September. Help your established trees by giving them a deep watering on a regular basis (every week or two). If you have newer trees, keep the soil moist and never let it dry out completely. You’ll want to back off the watering when it cools down, but during summer make sure trees get a good soak every 3 to 5 days. One way to ensure good watering is to use a soaker hose around the entire root zone of your tree. Try the Snip-n-Drip Soaker System from Gardener’s Supply.

10. Try Plant Packages for a Plant-and-Enjoy Approach

Sometimes you just want to get an area of your garden refreshed without a lot of thought or fuss. Did you know that some plant suppliers have already done the work for you, creating groupings of plants that work well together for different purposes and styles? Why reinvent the wheel? Try plant packages from suppliers such as Plants Express or White Flower Farm, or these container garden plans from Proven Winners (they sell all the plants shown, too).