Ten Tips for the July Gardener:

1. Inspect garden plants regularly for insect and disease problems.
2. Sanitation practices, insecticidal soaps, and insect traps are alternatives to pesticides.
3. Properly placed shade trees will reduce air conditioning costs.
4. Try shade tolerant ground covers in areas where lack of sunlight limits grass growth.
5. Yellow leaves of cucurbits and tomatoes may indicate waterlogged conditions or the need for nitrogen because of all the rain we have received last month. Fertilize if necessary.
6. Raise your mowing height to 3 inches during hot weather.
7. Cucumbers get bitter if water is lacking during ripening.
8. Tomato hornworms are large green caterpillars that feed on the leaves of tomatoes and related plants. Hand-pick or control with B.t.
9. Cut back mums, tall asters, Montauk daisies and helianthus by about one-quarter for bushy, more floriferous plants.
10. Hummingbirds are attracted to red salvia, coral bells and bee balm.