This Guide will Help you to Keep your Garden Maintained During the Summer
If you feel as though your garden just doesn’t look the part, then you will know how frustrating this can be. You may feel as though everyone else’s garden looks better than yours, and that you need to do something drastic about it. Either way, you are certainly doing yourself a favor by taking action now. Take a look below to see what steps you need to take in order to get things back on track.
Mow Frequently During Summer
It’s so important that you mow your grass quite a lot during summer. Cutting it shorter isn’t a good idea though. If possible, you need to cut it often, and only just a bit more than usual. If you can do this, then you will soon find that it stops the weeds from growing to the point where they are able to produce seeds. Mow the lawn when it is dry as well, as this will stop any cut waste from becoming harmful. If you cut grass when it is wet, then you may find that this stifles the growth of the grass and this can promote the proliferation of things like mushrooms. If you want to make your job easier if you have a very large garden, then you may want to check out this battery powered zero turn mower.
Water your Plants
Your garden has to have water. If you want to spend your summer surrounded by stunning plants and flowers, then you might want to water manually. This will give you the chance to adjust the right amount of water for each plant or flower, and it will also help you to make sure that none of your plants are suffering from drought. If you do not have the time to water your plants, or if you feel as though your garden is too big to water, then it is possible for you to fall back on things such as automatic irrigation. This can save you a lot of time and money, not to mention that you can also set it so it doesn’t use more water than required. The best times for you to water your plants would be during sunset or at dawn. The main reason for this is because the temperature of the air will cool down and the soil is also way lower too. The evaporation will be less too, another major bonus. Just make sure that you are trying to water the soil evenly, as this is the only way for you to make sure that it is being absorbed properly.
Plants Bloom in Summer
Summer flowers are amazing, and they are truly majestic. You just have to make sure that you are putting in the work to maintain them properly. You might even decide whether or not you want to decorate a corner of your garden with some climbing plants, such as honeysuckle. You can then add some roses or some lavender for color. Things like this can help you to make your garden look the best it can.
Watch out for Parasites
You should always take the time to give your plants and your flowers a good check-over in summer. During the hot season, apple trees and plum trees are very prone to fungus and this can cause a disease, called monilia. If you happen to notice any dry leaves or any sagging branches, then you have to try and react quickly. If you do not, then you may find that things end up getting worse and this can cause the whole tree to perish. If you want to do something about this, then you need to cut off the diseased parts of the plant, so you can stop it from spreading. If you have some solid pruning tools, then this will help you out a lot here. If you notice any parasites, then you first need to identify what you have before you decide on a plan of action. A lot of people choose to dive right in, and they spray the whole tree down with anti-parasite spray. The issue with this is that it might not be targeting the specific parasite you have, and in some instances, it can make the fruit inedible. This is the last thing you need, but there are some natural remedies you can adopt to try and keep pests at bay.
Potted Plants are Great
If you have some potted plants, then this is great as it gives you the chance to keep any fast-growing plants at bay and it also stops them from taking over the other plants in your garden. You just have to make sure that they are never fully in the sun. Ideally, you should place them in a nice, shaded area, so they do not end up getting burnt. Pay close attention to the pot you are using, if it is dark or if it is plastic then it is possible for the surface to overheat if it gets too much sunlight. If this is the case then your plant roots may dry out, even though the surface of the soil looks fine. If you do have a very sunny garden and you have some potted plants then try and choose pots that are light in color or ceramic. If you can do this, then you will soon find that it is easier for you to get the best result out of your garden and you may even find that you can make your plants last longer too. Just make sure that you also take the time to check your plants regularly so you can avoid the top of the surface becoming too dry, which will make watering inefficient.
Prune your Plants
Summertime is the best time for you to be pruning your plants. A lot of smart gardeners choose to research the best time in summer to do their pruning. It may be that you prune some plants quite early on, but other plants can wait. Pruning also requires a different technique, depending on the foliage. If you look at fruit trees for example, then you will see that these need pruning so you can make sure that any fruit is kept low to the ground throughout the life cycle. If you have bushy hedging, then this will also require very specific pruning methods so that you can keep them growing as well as possible.
Too Much Sun is Bad for Young Plants
Sun has a lot of potential when it comes to ruining younger plants. If possible, you need to give them a translucent covering or put them in a semi-shaded area. Using whatever materials you have lying around is always a good idea. It may be that you even use some old curtains or some sheets. Either way, make sure that they are getting some direct sunlight, but make sure it’s not too much. If you can do this, then you will be able to protect your younger plants even during the height of summer and this will help you out a lot in the long run. If you are constantly having young plants die, then it could be too much sun, or it could be that there aren’t enough nutrients in the soil. If this is the case, then make sure that you are digging in some new compost every year. If you do this you can keep the nutrients topped up, which will work wonders for younger plants.
Use Shade Strategically
As mentioned above, shade is super important for your plants, even for the ones that love sun. That being said, if you have a particularly sunny garden then you have to make sure that you are not forgetting about yourself. You may want to have some shade in the garden for when the sun is blazing. If you plant some high trees, then this will provide you with ample shade and you may even find that it helps to give some shade to the plants underneath. If you do not have big enough trees to shade your garden, then things such as gazebos can help you out quite a lot here. They are easy to put up and if you combine them with a nice dining table, you will soon find that you have an outdoor space you can truly unwind in.
Remember, you are trying to keep your garden nice so you can enjoy it. It’s so important that you focus on this, as well as the health of your plants. If you can do this, then you will soon find that it has never been easier for you to keep your plants looking great and that it is also super easy for you to get the result you want out of your outdoor space. If you want to get some professional help, then remember, there are qualified gardeners out there who can help you to make the most out of your space, while also advising you on what will grow well, and what won’t, so be mindful of this.