Keep deadheading flowers.

• This time of year, working in the garden is nearly impossible at any time except early morning. As much as possible, work some morning garden grooming into your schedule.

Deadheading 101 -- Keep deadheading. For the most flowers and tidiest garden, deadhead daily. Some gardeners take a few minutes each morning, making it part of their daily routine.

Deadheading 101

• Keep new plantings well-watered.

Drought Survival -- Check out our lawn drought-survival tips.

Drought Survival

• When annuals (especially petunias) or perennials get leggy or scraggly, cut them back by one-third or more. It will not only make them look neater, but it also often encourages a fresh flush of growth and/or bloom.
• With intense heat, it's a good idea not to fertilize roses this month. High temperatures reduce vigor and therefore lessen the need for food.
• Fertilize acid-loving plants and any other plants that may be showing an iron deficiency; for example, young leaves may appear yellow-green with dark green leaves. Acid-loving plants include azaleas, gardenias, blueberries, and camellias.

Fertilize Plants in Pots -- Fertilize containers. Constant watering flushes out nutrients. Feed with either a liquid or granular fertilizer, synthetic or organic -- your choice.

Fertilize Plants in Pots

• Most vegetables will stop producing in the heat. If they're dying, remove them. Otherwise, keep them watered and wait for production to resume in the fall.
• Mow regularly, your best defense against weeds!
• If you have a garden journal, keep up with it. Most garden journals drop off as the season progresses, but it's a useful tool 12 months of the year.