JULY GARDEN CHECKLIST

• GROOM Billowing, overgrown perennials like Nepeta, Coreopsis, Lamium, lavenders, Salvias, Perovskia, hardy geraniums and the like can be sheared back if they are growing out of bounds. A flush of new growth and flowers will follow later in the summer and fall. Deadhead annuals if you want them to continue blooming.

• PLAN FOR MORE COLOR Summer is a good time to plan for late summer and fall color. Plant purple coneflower, black-eyed Susan, Autumn Joy sedum, salvia and ornamental grasses. Many warm season annuals like marigolds, lobelias, dahlias, snapdragons, verbenas and impatiens can be planted now for more color.

• PLANT MORE VEGETABLES A midsummer planting of green beans, summer squash, peas, lettuce, spinach, carrots, beets and even early maturing corn is a good idea this month.

• FERTILIZE All plants, indoors or out, benefit from a mid-summer feeding.

• HOE HOE HOE Don't let summer weeds go to seed.