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Summer Garden Survival Tips (For You & Your Plants!)
Written by Ann Meisoll
Nobody really wants to work in the garden in the middle of July, but there are a few easy things you can do to ensure everything stays alive and healthy. Your yard is an investment—don’t you want to make sure it pays you back?
Water
You don’t need to water every day. To keep your lawn healthy and green, make sure it gets at least 1” of water a week, all at one time. A thorough deep watering helps contribute to stronger, more drought-resistant grass. Established trees and shrubs don’t need much additional water, but they wouldn’t mind a drink now and then either! Annuals, perennials, veggies, and herbs are probably the thirstiest plants in your yard. Get them what they need and they’ll return the favor to you. Also, consider installing a drip watering system. It is much more effective (both cost- and water-wise) than using a sprinkler system since the water goes right where it needs to be.
Feeding
Be sure to keep feeding your vegetables and herbs. If they get too stressed out during the heat of the summer, this will affect their production. Use a dry fertilizer like the Espoma products and you’ll cut your time outside in the heat. You don’t need to mix it with anything, not even water.
Harvesting
Are your tomatoes and peppers ready? Pick them early in the morning when it is maybe a little cooler outside. The more you pick, the more your plants will produce.
Weeds
Nobody likes to weed – NOBODY. Whenever you see a weed that doesn’t belong there, just pluck it out and get rid of it. The more often you do this, the less time you’ll have to spend doing it later on.
Lawns
Don’t mow your grass unless it absolutely needs it. Yep, you heard that right. By keeping your grass taller, you don’t need to water as much, since the roots are cooler in the shade. Also, if you keep your grass really short, like a golf course putting green, the grass may develop sunscald, and this could seriously damage your turf. It also opens the lawn up to the possibility of diseases and insects. So park the lawnmower and enjoy the shade.
