During this past winter, it was hard to believe we would be complaining about the heat in July. But here it is. As the hard work in our gardens and yards comes to fruition this month, and we enjoy our fruits, vegetables and flowers, we should also be thinking of ways to protect our gardens from the heat and pests while increasing the yield of our plants.

You can still plant the beautiful items you find at your local nursery, but take a few precautions. Choose a cloudy, cool day to plant. Provide shade for new plants by using cardboard boxes or burlap shelters. Mulch around your new plant’s root zone to help keep that soil cool and to help reduce evaporation. Be prepared to water your new plants frequently to cool the plants and reduce scorching and wilting from the hot summer sun.

In some areas of Colorado, you can plant beets, radishes, chard, kohlrabi, kale, endive and carrots. They will germinate quickly. You can also transplant seedlings of broccoli, cauliflower and late cabbages now in some places. Water is essential to your gardens in these hot, dry months. Water when the soil beneath your mulch layers is beginning to dry. Gardens need at least an inch of water a week right now to keep growing and producing.

For your established plants and yard, take precautions to help your plants beat the heat. Keep your perennials well watered, and if you haven’t already mulched them, take the time now to do so. Gently spread mulch over any bare spots of soil to help conserve water and to maintain uniform moisture for all your plants. Vines, ground covers and ornamental grasses will appreciate a deep watering every week, but mulched plants can go longer between waterings, as the mulch protects the soil and reduces evaporation.

Mulching between plants will also be beneficial in your vegetable garden. Apply a 2- to 3-inch layer of mulch around the plants. Leave a space at the base of the plant for air to circulate and to discourage pests from nesting at the base of your plants.

Continue to mow your lawn every week to 10 days, or as needed. Take the time now to sharpen your mower blade or maybe even replace it with a new one. This will make your mowing job go more smoothly and quickly. When you mow, leave the grass clippings on the lawn.

If they are fine enough, they can actually decompose into the ground and make your lawn healthier. If your lawn has gone a long time between mowings and you feel the grass clippings will clump together, use a mulching lawn mower, which will cut the grass clippings into fine pieces.

Heat causes stress in our plants and so do pests. You can control most simple pests, such as aphids and spider mites, early in the game by hosing them off with a forceful spray of water from the hose. If need be, try a commercial or homemade soap spray early in the morning or in the evening. To make your own soap spray use 1 to 2 tablespoons of a liquid soap with no bleach or degreaser additives per gallon of water. If you are unsure of the pests you are dealing with, contact your local nursery or cooperative extension office at www.ext.colostate.edu.

While you try to keep cool this month, enjoy the fruits of your gardening labor. Take time and harvest mature vegetables and fruit daily when they are at their peak of ripeness. This will prevent the vegetables and fruit from overmaturing and will also stimulate new growth.

Keep spreading that sunshine, and take a few minutes to help your plants beat the heat.