The summer season can be rough on your plants and trees, but following a few simple rules will help make life easier for your green friends. Summer landscape maintenance rules that is.
Summer is unofficially here and that means the care we give our plants and trees will increase. It is in this season when many species, some in the midst of their flowering cycle, experience unrelenting summer sun, high temperatures and drought.
As always, plant selection is the most important step in garden design. But once your plants are in the ground, following a few simple rules will help make life easier for your green friends:
- If you haven’t yet, make sure the landscape beds are mulched. This helps retain moisture longer.
- If you garden in containers, move them to an area with more shade.
- Depending on sun exposure, especially in the afternoon, some areas of your landscape may require supplemental water.
- Water early in the morning or in late afternoon. Watering in the heat of the day is a waste.
- Water deeply and slowly to give the soil a chance to absorb water. Avoid excess water; this will damage plant roots.
- Don’t leave the water hose sitting out in the sun — you’ll have 25 feet of hot water and your hose will deteriorate faster.
- Don’t cut the grass so short. Keep the mower blades a little higher than usual.
Finally, enjoy yourself while you’re tending to your landscape. And remember to protect yourself by wearing appropriate clothing (to keep mosquitoes away) and hydrate yourself instead of the entire garden.
