Remember monsoon season is on its way and many of our desert plants love the added humidity; but it will get windy, and can deplete the soil in flower beds.
A good thing to do in July is add iron to your soil and if you can stand it, this is a good time to add manure so it will ‘bake’ into the soil making it rich and ready for fall planting. Manure helps soil resist wind erosion by binding loose particles together and keeps it from blowing away in possible upcoming windy weather.
If you haven’t already, now is a good time to plant Lantana, (a valley staple), Vincas (colorful and able to handle triple digits), Palms, Zinnias (vibrant colors, native to Mexico; perfect for Phoenix) and Gomphrena (clover-like, globe-shaped, long-lasting flowers, thrives in intense heat) and lastly, most succulents. Plant during the evening or early morning and water lightly. Afterward, apply some sort of a shade cloth for the first couple of days until the plants adjust to sun. A simple idea: Staple half of an old pillow case onto two thin dowel bars and plant in the ground over the new plants. Water in the early morning or after sunset and do so deeply around the plants directly into the soil, keeping water off the actual plant so they won’t burn or bear too much weight. Also, spreading some mulch (straw, wood chips or compost) will retain moisture keeping plants cooler. Placing broken pieces of wet, unglazed clay in the dirt will allow a slow release of moisture to the roots. But if using broken clay, be sure to use gloves. The next time you boil pasta, steam veggies or boil some eggs, don’t pour the water down the drain; let it cool and pour over your plants, both outdoors and indoors. The water will have useful nutrients such as calcium to keep the struggling plants healthy, strong and green.
Watch for small pests as they are desperately seeking water this time of year as well. And as always, make sure someone knows you are working in the yard. Wear a hat, sunscreen and stay hydrated—drinking plain water and electrolytes.