July Garden Guide

Note: This is general information for the entire state of Arkansas on what to plant in your garden in July. For specific questions about planting in your area, please reach out to your local county agent.

Welcome, summer! It’s getting pretty darn hot out already, and it is not uncommon for plants to slow production when temperatures get over 95° F.

Garden Chores for July

Do you have a rain gauge? They are helpful when determining how much water your garden needs and how often you need to water it.

Wondering what kind of garden chores you can do this time of year? Find out what chores we recommend doing this month:

Monitor rainfall and water accordingly.
Replenish mulch, as needed.
Fertilize plants, as needed. If you have questions about feeding your plants, reach out to your county extension agent.
Harvest vegetables as they come in.
Scout for pests. For questions or concerns, reach out to your county extension agent.
Plant pumpkins for Jack-O-Lanterns in the fall.
Plan your fall garden.
Pinch back flowers on your herbs to prevent them from going to seed.
Dig up and divide irises, if you have not done so already.

Tips for Butterfly Gardening

Butterflies are attracted to clusters of flowers, so plant them close together. Look for brightly colored, red, orange, yellow, and purple flowers. Vary the shape of the different flowers you plant, and be sure to provide a water source.

Invite butterflies to your yard! Create an environment they will thrive in.

Butterflies need nectar, sun, larval host plants, and a pesticide-free environment. You can plant members of the parsley family, such as dill and fennel.

For monarchs, you will want to make sure to plant milkweed. Monarchs only lay eggs on milkweeds.

When choosing plants with varying bloom times for a continuous food source. Nectar plants include: