The Mountain Gardner:

Whether you grow a full-blown vegetable garden or a few herbs and edible flowers in containers, celebrate this Fourth of July by serving a menu created with produce harvested from your own garden.
It may be too early for your corn or tomatoes, but peas served with a touch of basil would be delicious. A fellow gardener recently told me that she loves steamed baby zucchini cooked with a small pinch of lavender flowers. I haven’t tried this myself, but it sounds interesting — maybe it could be garnished with some edible nasturtium or viola flowers.
Actively growing vegetables and flowers need a boost from fertilizer. They use a lot of nutrients, especially nitrogen, at this time of year.
Add water-soluble fertilizer to your drip irrigation system or apply it through a hose-end sprayer. Sprinkle dry fertilizers over the soil around the plants or apply in trenches next to the rows. And always water deeply afterward.
Remember that weeds compete with vegetables and flowers for moisture, nutrients and sunlight. Weeds can also serve as alternate hosts for disease and pest problems. You can prevent weeds from getting out of control by using the “half-hour” rule. Weeding for just a half-hour every couple of days will save you hours of hard work in the future. By staying ahead of the weeds, you’ll grow more healthy produce and flowers.
If you battle dandelions and don’t want to use chemical weed killers around pets and children, get the white vinegar out of the cupboard. On a hot, sunny day, spray full-strength white vinegar directly on the weed. This method will kill whatever it touches, so direct the spray carefully.
If the dandelion is in the lawn, wait a week and then pour some water on the dead spot to dilute any lasting effects of the vinegar. Then poke a bunch of holes and drop in some grass seed. Sprinkle a bit of fertilizer where the seed is sown and keep the area moist. In three weeks, you won’t remember where the dead spot was, and the dandelion will be long gone.
Trees are the most important living assets on your property. They cool your house and offer shade and protection for your plants. They provide food and shelter for birds and other wildlife.
Summer heat can take a toll on trees. Fruit, citrus and flowering trees need a deep irrigation every other week. Less-thirsty, established trees like Chinese pistache and strawberry trees need irrigation about once a month. Newly planted trees need water regularly. Gradually reduce frequency after a year or so.
There are also ways to maximize the efficiency of the water you apply. Drill several 4-inch-wide holes about 24 to 30 inches deep around the drip line of the tree, being careful not to damage large roots. Fill the holes with compost and water. Or, you can use a soaker hose on the surface to slowly water the tree.
Mulch all planting beds heavily. Do not use rocks or gravel as a mulch, because hey add heat to the soil and cause moisture to evaporate faster.
Happy Fourth of July!
Happy Fourth of July!
Jan Nelson, a California certified nursery professional at Plant Works in Ben Lomond, will answer questions about gardening in the Santa Cruz Mountains. E-mail her at ja******@ao*.com.