What to Do in Your Central Texas Garden (July 1–15): Rain Gardens, Fig Harvest & Summer Pruning
July has arrived in Central Texas, and while many gardeners are tempted to hide indoors, there is still plenty to do in the garden. In this episode, Colleen shares tips for managing summer pests, building rain gardens, pruning trees and perennials, harvesting fruit, deciding whether to continue vegetable gardening through the heat, and saving seeds for future seasons.
🐛 Watch for Summer Pests & Diseases
Early July is often the worst time of year for garden pests and diseases thanks to high heat and humidity.
Common Summer Garden Pests:
Leafhoppers
Aphids
Scale insects
Ants harvesting honeydew
Signs of Trouble:
Ants traveling on plants
Sticky leaves
Discolored foliage
Distorted growth
💡 Colleen's reminder: The best fertilizer for the garden is the gardener's shadow. Frequent garden walks help you catch problems before they get out of hand.
🌧️ Rain Gardens for Erosion Control
If heavy rains have created erosion problems in your yard, consider installing a rain garden.
What Is a Rain Garden?
A rain garden is a shallow depression that collects runoff and allows water to soak slowly into the ground rather than washing away soil.
Rain Garden Benefits:
Reduces erosion
Helps prevent flooding
Improves water infiltration
Supports healthy landscapes
Helpful Resources:
City of Austin Grow Green Program
City of Austin Rain Garden Rebates
Rainwater Harvesting for Drylands and Beyond by Brad Lancaster
🌳 Tree & Shrub Care in July
✔️ Oak Wilt Season Is Ending
After June 30, it is generally safe to begin pruning oak trees again.
Good Summer Pruning Tasks:
Clear roofs
Clear driveways and sidewalks
Lift tree canopies
Improve airflow between plants
Important Rule:
Never remove more than 25–30% of a tree's leaves in a single year.
🍎 Fruit Tree Harvest & Summer Pruning
Many fruit crops are ripening now across Central Texas.
Harvest Now:
Anna apples
Dorsett Golden apples
Brown Turkey figs
Celeste figs
LSU Gold figs
Purple Passion figs
Grapes
Summer Fruit Tree Pruning:
After harvest, begin pruning:
Peaches
Plums
Other stone fruits
Remove:
Dead branches
Crossing branches
Water sprouts
Suckers below grafts
💡 Summer pruning helps keep fruit trees smaller and more manageable.
🌻 Perennial Garden Maintenance
July is not a good time to plant new perennials.
Instead, Focus On:
Trimming
Deadheading
Improving airflow
Preventing overcrowding
Cut Back by Half:
Mealy Blue Sage
Henry Duelberg Sage
Mexican Bush Sage
Black & Blue Sage
Fall Asters
Goldenrod
Maximilian Sunflower
This encourages bushier growth and bigger blooms in fall.
🌺 Deadheading Summer Bloomers
These plants benefit from removing spent flowers:
Yellow Bells
Plumbago
Pride of Barbados
Hibiscus
Deadheading helps keep flowers coming through summer.
🌿 Pruning Small Evergreen Shrubs
July is one of the best times to prune many small woody perennials and subshrubs.
Examples:
Salvia greggii
Damianita
Rock Rose
Mexican Oregano
Powis Castle Artemisia
Pruning Tips:
Remove dead branches
Remove branches touching the ground
Remove overly woody stems
Lightly shear the top 2 inches
This keeps plants vigorous and attractive.
🥕 Should You Put the Vegetable Garden to Bed?
Many Central Texas gardeners stop vegetable gardening in midsummer.
If You're Taking a Summer Break:
Remove unhealthy plants
Remove crops you're tired of harvesting
Put away cages and trellises
Add compost
Add mulch
Consider Summer Cover Crops:
Black-eyed peas
Sunflowers
Millet
Buckwheat
Sorghum
🌞 If You're Gardening Through Summer
There are still crops that can thrive in the heat.
Direct Sow:
Okra
Southern peas
Melons
Pumpkins
Gourds
Winter squash
Sunflowers
Amaranth
Molokhia
Magenta Spreen
Summer Garden Tasks:
Side dress peppers and eggplants
Add compost
Refresh mulch
Prune overgrown tomatoes
🌿 Herb Garden Cleanup
Many herbs are finishing their spring growth cycle.
Time to Remove or Cut Back:
Basil
Mint
Lemon Balm
Chives
Evergreen Herbs to Prune:
Rosemary
Sage
Thyme
Lavender
Oregano
Marjoram
Tropical Herbs Still Growing:
Lemongrass
Ginger
Turmeric
Keep these watered and mulched.
🌱 Seed Saving at Your Local Library
This episode's activism segment encourages gardeners to support community seed libraries.
Ways to Help:
Borrow seeds
Save seeds
Donate seeds
Start a seed collection at your library - just ask your librarian! Visit centexseedsavers.org for more info.
Great Resource:
The Seed Garden by Seed Savers Exchange
Even saving seeds from one successful plant can help preserve varieties adapted to Central Texas.
🔗 Resources & Products Mentioned
Book a consultation with Colleen:
http://atxgardens.com/
Garden Gloves for smooshing bugs: https://amzn.to/3QeZ51L
Rain Gardens- https://www.austintexas.gov/watershed-protection/rain-gardens-keeping-water-land
COA rebate program: https://www.austintexas.gov/water/programs/rebates-tools-programs
Rainwater Harvesting for Drylands and Beyond: https://amzn.to/4xiw45V
Short-Handled Loppers aka 2 handed pruners: https://amzn.to/4ewQuRk
Felco #7: https://amzn.to/3QytuZ4
Let’s Care for Texas Plants Digital Download: https://www.atxgardens.com/zines/p/lets-care-for-texas-plants-digital-zine
Hand cultivator: https://amzn.to/4u3noNY
The Seed Garden: https://amzn.to/3ScS5TJ
🌼 Stay Connected
For more Central Texas gardening advice, seasonal planting tips, and sustainable landscaping guidance, visit http://ATXGardens.com and follow Colleen on Instagram @ATXGardens_.
