In central North Carolina, gardening in July is mostly about maintenance and enjoying the fruits of the spring labor. Since I do mostly flowers, I don’t mention the abundant and wonderful fruits and vegetables. The Farmers’ Markets are overflowing with summer bounty right now.

The roses have had their showtime. When temperatures regularly hit above 85, they’re done. Time for a nap. But that doesn’t mean I’m done with them. In fact, they need a lot of help to make it through the hot, humid summer days, when they’re attacked by blackspot, beetles, and other bugs. I’ve found BioAdvanced 3-in-1 Rose Care is the best solution for keeping roses going through the stressful summer.

The daffodils, tulips, iris, and other spring flowering perennials are done, too, and they tuck themselves away to save up for next year’s show.

It’s time for hydrangeas, daylilies, gladiolas, and other summer blooming perennials to do their thing. The shasta daisies, rudbeckia, coreopsis, and veronica are all gorgeous right now.

The annuals are putting on a glorious display. Zinnias, marigolds, alyssum, cosmos all seem to thrive in our hot, steamy climate and clay soil (supplemented with as much organic matter as I can manage to mix in).

It’s too hot to do much work there except in the early hours of the morning. That’s the time for deadheading and weeding to keep everything thriving.

Now’s the time to sit on the porch swing and admire the show.