Summer tips for gardens, grazing

2:55 p.m. July 1, 2025

WILL THOMAS
UT Extension Agent

As we head into the heart of summer, July brings both rewards and challenges for gardeners here in Moore County. Vegetables like squash, tomatoes, cucumbers, and okra are hitting their stride, but so are the pests. Staying vigilant with both plant care and pest management will keep your garden productive and healthy through the hottest months.

Pest pressure increases in early July, and several common insects become active throughout the month. Here are some chemical options (active ingredients) for our pests. Tomato hornworms, known for chewing through tomato and pepper plants, can be managed effectively with carbaryl.

Squash bugs, which damage zucchini and pumpkins by feeding on plant sap, are best controlled using permethrin or bifenthrin. For cucumber beetles, which feed on cucurbit plants and spread bacterial wilt, effective chemical controls include carbaryl, bifenthrin, or cyhalothrin.

Aphids, which suck sap and distort leaves, can be treated with imidacloprid or permethrin. Spider mites, tiny pests that cause bronzing of leaves and form webbing, may require a miticide such as abamectin or bifenthrin. Japanese beetles, which skeletonize leaves of beans, roses, and fruit trees, can be managed with carbaryl, bifenthrin, or cyfluthrin.

Cutworms, which chew off seedlings at the soil line, respond well to permethrin or bifenthrin.

Stink bugs and leaf-footed bugs, which pierce tomatoes and other fruits, can be treated with cyhalothrin, permethrin, or bifenthrin.

Beyond pest control, watering is critical in July. Aim for deep, infrequent watering (1–1.5 inches per week), and do it early in the day to minimize evaporation and
reduce disease risk. Mulching around your plants helps keep the soil cooler, holds moisture, and prevents weed competition, all of which are essential during the peak summer months.

This is also the time to side-dress heavy feeders, such as tomatoes, corn, and peppers, with a balanced fertilizer to support fruit development. Remove suckers from indeterminate tomatoes and train vining crops, such as pole beans and cucumbers, on trellises to improve airflow and yield cleaner harvests.

Regularly picking okra, beans, squash, and cucumbers will encourage continued production; letting them get too large will slow the plant down. Don’t forget to start planning your fall garden. July is an ideal time to start indoor seedlings for broccoli, cabbage, collards, and kale.

You can also prepare beds for later direct seeding of carrots, turnips, and beets. As crops finish, rotate plantings to help avoid pest and disease buildup in the soil.

The second thing I want to touch on is rotational grazing. This strategic pasture management practice involves moving livestock between multiple paddocks to allow forage plants time to regrow. This method sustains pasture health and optimizes livestock nutrition and overall profitability.

According to the University of Kentucky Extension, implementing rotational grazing can lead to increased forage productivity, improved pasture composition, and more efficient nutrient utilization from manure. By dividing pastures into smaller sections and rotating livestock through them, farmers can ensure that forage plants are grazed uniformly and have adequate rest periods, promoting robust regrowth.

The University of Maine Cooperative Extension highlights that rotational grazing enables producers to synchronize livestock movement with forage growth patterns, thereby enhancing pasture utilization and extending the grazing season.

A good rule of thumb in Tennessee is that 1,000 to 2,000 pounds of cattle live weight per acre can be supported for about 30 days, depending on forage quality, rainfall, and grazing pressure. That means a single acre may support one mature 1,200-lb cow for about a month, but only if the forage is managed correctly.

When divided into 4–8 paddocks and rotated every few days, that same acre can stretch further, producing more usable grazing days by allowing regrowth between grazings. More intensive systems (with 12 or more paddocks and shorter grazing periods) can support even higher stock density.

On average, a 1,200-pound cow consumes about 30 pounds of dry matter per day. With 100 cows, the herd’s total daily forage demand is approximately 3,000 pounds.

To meet this demand, and assuming average forage production of 3,000-4,000 pounds of dry matter per acre annually, with 50% considered usable under rotational grazing, each acre can provide between 1,500 and 2,000 pounds of dry matter.

This means the herd will require about 1.5 to 2 acres of fresh pasture per day. Using daily rotation and aiming for a rest period of 30 to 35 days to allow forage to regrow, the ideal grazing system would include between 30 and 35 paddocks, each measuring 1.5 to 2 acres. This setup would require 50 to 60 acres of well-managed pastureland. Each paddock would be grazed for one day and then rested for about a month before being grazed again.

Farmers should determine the optimal number and size of paddocks, taking into account forage availability, livestock density, and access to water. Rotational grazing also offers environmental benefits. The practice promotes even distribution of manure, enhancing soil fertility.

Additionally, well-managed grazing systems can improve water infiltration and reduce soil erosion, contributing to overall ecosystem health and drought resilience. Whether you’re working with 5 acres or 500, rotational grazing is a proven method to improve your pasture, support your animals, and build long-term sustainability into your operation.

The UT Extension Office is here to support you. Don’t hesitate to call (931-759-7163), email (wthoma32@utk.edu), or stop by (County Building).

Will Thomas is an Extension Agent with the Moore County Extension Office. The U.T. Extension Office of Moore County offers programs to all eligible persons regardless of race, color, age, national origin, veteran status, or disability.