What to do in July in the garden in a mountain climate?

Some regions are subject to particular climatic conditions. Our local correspondents explain the actions, sowing, planting and harvesting to you in the garden in a mountain climate in July.

Prune the vine

At the beginning of July, after fruit set, I stalk my vine . If the elders planted their vines against the south facade of the house, in the mountains, the maturity of the grapes often depends on the mild autumns.
Tired of sour grapes and inspired by a wise neighbor, I undertook last year to remove every second bunch: the harvest was smaller, but the grapes were sweeter …

Maintain the pool water

In summer, care must be taken to maintain the water level in the ponds by adding water often so as not to drop the temperature suddenly, which would harm plants and animals. The summer heat warms the water in the pools all the more quickly as they are shallow and protected from the wind. This benefits the water lilies , but in small pools the temperature rises very quickly and becomes dangerous for the flora and fauna. in fact, the more the water heats up, the more its oxygen concentration decreases.
To avoid such a situation, regular watering with a jet in small pools improves the quality of the water , refreshes it, oxygenates it and raises the level.
For larger ponds or ponds, installing a pump , which creates a water jet , is a solution. A good cleaning of the banks and the removal of some of the overly invasive plants limit the degradation of plants in the water, which is also harmful.
You can break the water jet to remove the chlorine and water the basin by oxygenating it.
Place a board against an edge: the insects will drink without drowning and the trapped animals will be able to escape.

Maintain the lawn

As summer approaches, I prepare the grass to withstand the heatwave.
I aerate the grass by scarifying it , and feed it with a well-decomposed compost, then I water generously. In fact, watering must be infrequent but abundant so that the water reaches the roots. I mow higher, leaving the grass in place, it will play the role of a mulch, maintaining the humidity.

Caring for rock garden plants

Adapted to extreme climates, plants in high altitude rock gardens require little maintenance. It is nevertheless important to provide them with soil in the summer so that they grow. And water regularly, for a good implantation.
I make sure to spread the blooms by installing carnations, campanulas, helianthemums , geraniums for the summer, and asters and gentians for the end of the season.

For more vigorous irises

While there is a magnificent species endemic to the Pyrenees, Iris latifolia, most varieties of iris are hybrids, very hardy. Every 3 to 5 years, these plants need to be divided. In the mountains, July is the right time to divide the irises , because the rhizomes, too numerous, lack space and suffocate.
Unearth them and take the opportunity to work the soil, weed it and amend it a little.
Keep only the healthy parts and replant them, leaving them flush: for a good flowering next year, the rhizomes must take the sun.
Irises, with infinite colors, have few requirements as to the quality of the soil. Well established, they tolerate drought. But, in marshy ground, install Iris sibirica or I. pseudoacorus, better adapted species.

How to have beautiful tomatoes in a mountain climate

Growing tomatoes in the mountains requires some gardening skills. This tropical plant needs warmth: the cool springs and the short summer season can sometimes be a source of problems.
To remedy this, grow these plants in a greenhouse . Thus, the tomatoes can be planted early enough. The plants are protected from bad weather and sometimes very marked cold returns in June.
In summer,  water the tomatoes   abundantly: for each plant, every 2 or 3 days, a watering can (10 l) of warmed water. Once in two, dilute nettle manure (10%): it is an extraordinary nitrogen fertilizer. The slurry of comfrey, used in addition, promotes fruit formation. Finally, to limit evaporation, cover the soil with 10 cm of straw .

Actinidia, a vine that must be tamed

Prune actinidias (kiwis) to contain their lush vegetation. This after the pruning of fruiting which took place, as for the vine, before the rise of sap, during the first half of March. This pruning allows the stems to be renewed, which is important because the fruits appear on the wood of the year.
The actinidia is a liana which produces during the summer a multitude of long stems covered with clusters of very small fruits. This is when it is time to act!
Remove suckers, stems without flowers or fruit, and shorten all branches to 4 leaves after the last bunch of fruit.
Take the opportunity to thin out and keep only 2 or 3 kiwis per bunch. This size in greenimproves fruit ripening and growth.