Summer Garden Maintenance
The approching summer months bring a plethora of life to gardens as the sun drenches lawns, and plants appear to take on a wonderful ethereal glow. But the beauty that unfolds along with the season of summer also brings plenty of work to be done behind the scenes.
The watering chores will seem to grow exponentially during the long, hot, dry spells. It is essential that the plant life gets what they need to sustain themselves under the summer sun. Sun-loving flowers are especially vulnerable as they will face the most exposure. The lawn, container plants, hanging baskets, vegetables, flowers and plants all need their drinks, but be careful not to overdo it.
Newly planted trees and shrubs are vulnerable and need a close eye kept on them when it comes to watering. Lawns should be cut a little higher than they usually are, as this will help them withstand the drier weather.
Weeding needs to be kept up throughout the summer months, catching them early, before they can seed further. Always remember to look under leaves of plants to catch the less obvious weeds. You can take solace that the weeds will not grow with such abandon during mid-summer if you do a good weeding early on.
Some plants will need a good grooming of course, and deadheading them, which is the act of snipping off the dying heads to strengthen the rest of the plant, will help to encourage a second bloom later in the season. The same principle can be applied to healthy flowering crops such as Chrysanthemums, so that a bushier growth with more flowers can occur. Chopping back any plants which have gone a little out of control can help other surrounding plants. Some plants are invasive and can stifle their neighbors.
Other tasks to be undertaken during the summer months are turning compost, checking the mulch around the plants, and treating your houseplants to some fresh outdoor air. Bird feeders need filling, dropped fruit will need collecting, evergreens will need pruning, and the tomato plants will need good staking to help them grow. Always be on the lookout for signs of deficiency or disease among the vegetable crops in the garden and greenhouse.
A healthy garden is a joy to be in. Why not reward others with the fruits of your labor by growing a patch or a row of vegetables specifically to donate to the needy. Summer is the time for barbecues, long evenings in the hot-tubs, and sunbathing on the lawn, but maintenance and upkeep is needed to keep everything looking great.
When all the summer month maintenance is done, it is a good time to start browsing through bulb catalogues to start planning for next season. When the garden is in full bloom, it is the best time to see what areas may need changing for next summer.
